How can people become United States citizens?

The 14th Amendment says that most people born on U.S. soil are citizens automatically. This is often called birthright citizenship, and it has been part of the Constitution since after the Civil War. There are a few narrow exceptions, like some children of foreign diplomats.

Many immigrants become citizens through a legal process called naturalization. It usually involves meeting eligibility rules like age and residency, passing an English and civics test, and taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Some people automatically become U.S. citizens through their parents, not by applying on their own. Congress makes the rules for when this happens, such as when a parent becomes a citizen while a child is still under a certain age and the child meets the legal requirements. This is called deriving citizenship.