Birth in U.S. territories generally confers what at birth?

• A. It has no bearing on citizenship
• B. It guarantees permanent residency
• C. It confers U.S. citizenship at birth
• D. It requires a naturalization process

Answer: (C)

Birth in U.S. territories generally yields citizenship at birth because these territories fall under U.S. sovereignty, so the same birthright principle that applies on the mainland extends there. The 14th Amendment establishes that people born within the United States and its possessions are citizens at birth, and in practice, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands grant U.S. citizenship automatically to those born there. The notable exception is American Samoa, where individuals are U.S. nationals at birth rather than citizens, though they can pursue citizenship through naturalization. So the usual outcome is U.S. citizenship at birth, not nothing, not permanent residency, and not requiring naturalization.