Since the 1800s, immigration has been considered an out of control problem in the United States. Government officials have said the issue of birthright citizenship is at the heart of the immigration dispute. To try to remedy this situation, public office holders have held hearings and debates in an attempt to “redefine” what it means to be an American citizen. Birthright citizenship is the term used to refer to citizenship granted to a person who was born in the associated territory. Giving an individual citizenship of a state or country means that he or she now enjoys the rights, privileges and duties of a citizen of the region concerned. In the United States, the right to citizenship is a very controversial subject; constant debates are held to discuss the effects of this issue. Whether for or against birthright citizenship, both parties bring together key ideas and events to answer the same question: Should birthright citizenship be maintained in America's future? In 1868, Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment which granted citizenship to all those born on American soil. The Fourteenth Amendment was developed to rectify the dispute caused by the Dred Scott affair. Dred Scott v. Sanford was a case in which the United States Supreme Court ruled that African Americans imported into the United States and held as slaves could never be U.S. citizens because they were not protected by the constitution . Section 1 of the 14th Amendment says: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall pass or enforce any law which would abridge the middle of the paper of the Constitution. NP, 2010. Web. March 8, 2011. . "ELK V. WILKINS, 112 US 94 :: Volume 112 :: 1884." U.S. Supreme Court Cases, Justia & Oyez. Np, and Web. March 8, 2011. “Immigration Enemies Target Citizen Babies.” CNN.com - Breaking News, US, World, Weather, Entertainment and Video News. Cable News Network, January 5, 2011. Web. March 4, 2011. .Preston, Julia. “State lawmakers outline plans to end birthright citizenship, sparking outcry.” Nytimes.com. The New York Times, January 5, 2011. Web. March 4. 2011. .