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Second Circuit Rules Citizenship Law Discriminates Against Fathers

Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that an immigration law that treats mothers and fathers differently in determining whether their children may claim U.S. citizenship is unconstitutional, Reuters' Joseph Ax reports.

The law requires unwed fathers who are U.S. citizens to spend at least five years residing in the U.S. before they can confer citizenship to children born out of country, out of wedlock and to a mother who is not a U.S. citizen. In contrast, unwed U.S. mothers only must reside in the U.S. for a year for their children to be able to obtain American citizenship.