H.R. 9724, The End Birthright Citizenship for Territories Act
Kelvin RodeoPublished on: 21/07/2026
Congress is considering ending birthright citizenship in the U.S. territories. As someone born on Saipan to two OFWs, I explain why this proposal threatens the CNMI, violates the Covenant, and risks dividing the very community it claims to protect.
birthright citizenshipU.S. territoriesCNMI birthright citizenshipNorthern Mariana IslandsCovenant Section 303Article III Section 303CNMI Covenantcitizenship rightsterritorial rightschildren of foreign workersCNMI guest workersCW-1 programCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana IslandsSaipanU.S. citizenshipimmigration policyCongress birthright citizenship billterritorial citizenshipsecond-class citizenslegal status in the CNMIoverseas Filipino workersOFWs in SaipanCNMI political statusindigenous and immigrant communitiesmilitary service in U.S. territoriesveterans from U.S. territoriesfuture of the CNMIinclusion in the CNMIbelonging and citizenshipforeign worker familiesAmerican territoriescitizenship at birthHR 9724
