Legal Definitions - jus soli

Definition: Jus soli is a Latin term that means "right of the soil." It refers to the rule that a child's citizenship is determined by the place of their birth. In the United States, this rule is affirmed by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This is in contrast to jus sanguinis, which is the rule that a child's citizenship is determined by the citizenship of their parents.

• A child born in New York City to parents who are not U.S. citizens would still be considered a U.S. citizen because of jus soli.
• However, a child born to U.S. citizens while they are living abroad would not automatically be considered a U.S. citizen because jus soli only applies to those born on U.S. soil.

These examples illustrate how jus soli works in practice. It means that anyone born on U.S. soil is considered a U.S. citizen, regardless of their parents' citizenship. This is meant to ensure that anyone born in the United States has a right to citizenship and the protections that come with it.