H.R. 569: Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 202593 cosponsors

Sponsor

Brian Babin

Republican · TX-36

Birth in America wouldn't guarantee citizenship

3 min readLast updated August 5, 2026

Why it matters

If you're having a baby in the United States, H.R. 569 says birthplace alone would no longer be enough for citizenship. Your child would qualify at birth only if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or national, a green card holder living here, or a lawful-status service member on active duty.

H.R. 569 would rewrite the federal rule for who becomes a U.S. citizen at birth when they're born in the United States. Right now, the bill argues the law should be clarified so birth in the country is not enough by itself.

Under the bill, a newborn would count as being under U.S. jurisdiction for citizenship at birth only if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident who lives in the United States, or a person with lawful immigration status serving on active duty in the U.S. military.

That means future births — not past ones — are the real target. Anyone already born before the law takes effect would keep their current citizenship or nationality status.

The practical shift is bigger than the bill's short text suggests. Hospitals, records offices, and federal agencies would need a way to verify a parent's status at or around birth before citizenship paperwork is settled.

For families, the central question would no longer be just where your child is born, but whether one parent fits the bill's legal categories on that day.

Bill Progress

IntroducedJan 21

Committee

Pass House

Pass Senate

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Jan 21, 2025

1/3

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 569 Bill Summary

What H.R. 569 actually does.

Birthplace alone stops being enough

H.R. 569 says a child born in the United States would not automatically qualify for citizenship at birth based only on being born here.

One parent must fit three listed categories

A newborn would qualify at birth only if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or national, a green card holder living in the United States, or a person with lawful status serving on active duty in the armed forces.

Green card holders are covered if they live here

The bill includes lawful permanent residents, but only when that parent's residence is in the United States.

Some military families are included

A parent with lawful immigration status who is serving on active duty in the U.S. military would satisfy the bill's test.

No change for people already born

The bill says it would not affect the citizenship or nationality status of anyone born before it becomes law.

Who benefits from H.R. 569?

Future U.S.-born children with a citizen or national parent

If you're a U.S. citizen or national having a child in the United States after enactment, your child would still qualify for citizenship at birth under the bill.

Families with a green card holder parent living in the U.S.

A baby born in the United States would still qualify if one parent is a lawful permanent resident whose residence is in the country.

Some lawful-status military families

If one parent has lawful status and is serving on active duty in the armed forces, a U.S.-born child would qualify at birth.

People already born before enactment

If you were born before this bill became law, the text says your current citizenship or nationality status would not change.

Who is affected by H.R. 569?

Future U.S.-born babies whose parents don't fit the listed categories

If neither parent is a citizen or national, a green card holder living here, or a lawful-status active-duty service member, the child would not automatically qualify for citizenship at birth under H.R. 569.

Mixed-status families expecting children

Your child's citizenship status at birth could depend on whether one parent fits the bill's categories at the time of delivery.

Hospitals and birth-record offices

Birth documentation may require new checks of parental citizenship, residency, or military status before records are finalized.

Federal immigration and citizenship agencies

Agencies would need to apply the new rule to births after enactment and decide what evidence is enough to prove a parent qualifies.

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Tracking floor activity — no debate on H.R. 569 yet. Updates when a legislator speaks on the record.

HR569 Legislative Journey

1 actions

House: Committee Action

Jan 21, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

About the Sponsor

Brian Babin

Republican, Texas's 36th congressional district · 11 years in Congress

Committees: Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure

View full profile →

Cosponsors (93)

This bill gained 6 cosponsors in the last 30 days

All 93 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 30 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, and 27 more.

93Republicans·30 states

Dan Crenshaw

Republican · TX

Earl Carter

Republican · GA

Derrick Van Orden

Republican · WI

Dale Strong

Republican · AL

Warren Davidson

Republican · OH

Ben Cline

Republican · VA

Troy Nehls

Republican · TX

Andy Biggs

Republican · AZ

Andrew Ogles

Republican · TN

Eric Burlison

Republican · MO

Diana Harshbarger

Republican · TN

Chip Roy

Republican · TX

Committee Sponsors

Judiciary Committee

19D24R1I

|18 signed26 not yet

18 of 44 committee members cosponsored

6 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents

H.R. 569 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

93+6

+88 more

Committee: Judiciary
Chamber: House
Policy: Immigration
Introduced: Jan 21, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 21, 2025

Constituent Resources

Find your legislators on H.R. 569

Get notified when this bill moves

Official Sources

H.R. 569 on Congress.gov

Official bill page with status, text, sponsors, and actions for the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025.

8 U.S. Code § 1401 — Nationals and citizens of United States at birth

This is the federal statute H.R. 569 would amend to redefine who is a citizen at birth in the United States.

14th Amendment on Congress.gov Constitution Annotated

The bill expressly invokes the 14th Amendment, and this official constitutional resource provides the background for the birthright citizenship debate.

USCIS Green Card Eligibility Categories

This USCIS page helps explain lawful permanent resident status, which H.R. 569 uses as one of the qualifying parental categories.

USCIS Citizenship Resource Center

USCIS administers citizenship matters and this page provides official information relevant to how citizenship rules are applied.

10 U.S. Code § 101 — Definitions

H.R. 569 references title 10's definition of the armed forces for the active-duty military parent category.

Immigration and Nationality Act on USCIS

Official USCIS gateway to the Immigration and Nationality Act, the broader federal law that contains section 301 amended by this bill.

Constitution of the United States on GovInfo

GovInfo hosts the official Constitution and related congressional materials useful for understanding the constitutional context of birthright citizenship.

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H.R. 569 Common Questions

Does H.R. 569 end automatic citizenship for every baby born in the U.S.?

No. H.R. 569 would still allow citizenship at birth if at least one parent fits one of three categories listed in the bill.

Who would still qualify for citizenship at birth under H.R. 569?

A U.S.-born child would qualify if one parent is a U.S. citizen or national, a green card holder living in the U.S., or a lawful-status service member on active duty.

Would H.R. 569 apply to people who are already citizens?

No. The bill says it would not change the citizenship or nationality status of anyone born before it becomes law.

If one parent has a green card, would the baby still be a citizen?

Yes, if that parent is a lawful permanent resident and lives in the United States. H.R. 569 specifically includes that group.

What if neither parent fits H.R. 569's status rules?

Under the bill, a child born in the United States would not automatically qualify for citizenship at birth if neither parent falls into one of the listed categories.

Are military families covered by H.R. 569?

Some are. The bill includes a parent with lawful immigration status who is serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.

Would H.R. 569 change the Constitution or just federal law?

The bill changes federal statute. But because it deals with birthright citizenship, courts would likely be asked whether that change matches the 14th Amendment.

Based on H.R. 569 bill text

H.R. 569 Bill Text

“To amend section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify those classes of individuals born in the United States who are nationals and citizens of the United States at birth.”

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office