A Kenyan Birth? Still Natural Born

Abstract

This paper is a “so what” rebuttal to those who hold the birther view and argues that even if Barack Obama were born outside of the United States, he is still a natural born citizen because, under the laws of the United States, he was entitled to birthright citizenship through his mother, no matter where he was born. The essence of the article lies on simple logic: that there are two types of American citizens — natural-born and naturalized. Those entitled to birthright citizenship do not have to be naturalized, no matter where they are born; so it follows that they are natural-born.

Keywords: natural born, natural born clause, natural born citizen, birthright citizenship, constitutional law, article 2, article II, presidential eligibility, birther, birthers