OPINION:
A recent case in South Africa regarding the acquisition of citizenship under the 14th Amendment provides absolute clarity on the issue concerning the offspring of illegal aliens in the U.S.
The case concerns South African Deputy Minister of Justice Andries Nel. A former chief of staff for another government official claimed earlier this month that because he was born in the U.S. to South African parents, Mr. Nel is a dual U.S.-South African citizen. (Mr. Nel’s diplomat parents were serving in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the time of his birth.)
Mr. Nel repudiated the claim, citing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: “Children born in the United States to accredited foreign diplomatic officers do not acquire citizenship under the 14th Amendment since they are not ‘born … subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.’”
Because that applies to the offspring of foreigners in the U.S. legally, there can be no case for the offspring of illegal aliens acquiring U.S. citizenship.
DUNCAN DU BOIS
Durban, South Africa
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