State Department Eases Restrictions on Citizenship for Children of Same-Sex Couples

Lauren Berg for Law360 reports that the U.S. Department of State yesterday announced that it will recognize birthright citizenship for children born abroad to married parents, as long as one parent is an U.S. citizen, in a policy change that makes it easier for same-sex couples to pass citizenship on to their children born overseas.

Children born abroad to married parents can now have birthright citizenship if they have a genetic or gestational tie to at least one of their parents and if at least one of their parents is an American citizen.

Previously, it was more difficult for LGBTQ couples to transmit their U.S. citizenship to their children born abroad because the old policy required that the child have a genetic or gestational relationship to a U.S. citizen parent, even if the parent they were not biologically related to held U.S. citizenship.

KJ