Sec. of State Rubio was for birthright citizenship before he was against it, filing a court brief during his 2016 presidential campaign. Prof. Peter Spiro tells the New York Times that the brief is a “powerful, succinct statement of why the 14th Amendment has been interpreted to cover almost all children born in the United States, regardless of parental immigration status.” Read More

USA Wealth Report 2025: America Tops Global Wealth Growth — But the Wealthy Eye Opportunities Abroad While the US remains one of the top destinations for global wealth migration, an increasing number of affluent Americans are actively seeking alternative residence and citizenship options abroad. Prof. Peter Spiro notes that “as Donald Trump’s second term unfolds with historic unpredictability, more Americans are confronting a stark reality: US citizenship alone no longer feels like a sufficient safeguard. Dual citizenship, once a luxury, is becoming the new American dream. In an era of rising uncertainty, many are seeking not just the right to stay, but the right to leave.”

Justice David Souter, Who Traded White Marble for the White Mountains Prof. Peter Spiro, who served as one of retired Justice David Souter’s first law clerks, joins other former clerks in remembering the Justice at his passing. “He was so old-school that it almost seemed like he never really caught up to electricity,” Professor Spiro said. “He wouldn’t turn on the lights in his office until it was pretty much dark.”

Why does America have birthright citizenship? Restrictions on birthright citizenship, while common in Europe, are generally not found in the Americas. Prof. Peter Spiro tells The Economist that this Atlantic divide dates back to settler societies using birthright citizenship as “an engine of assimilation.”

Interest in dual citizenship is rising among Americans concerned with political instability. But, says Prof. Peter Spiro, dual citizenship wasn’t always so coveted. As recently as the late 20th century, it was considered an act of treason.”Since the end of the Cold War, we’ve witnessed close to an 180-degree shift in attitude,” Spiro said.

As the power of a US passport falls, dual citizenship provides political risk insurance. Prof. Peter Spiro says “This time around, the stakes are higher. During the first Trump administration, legacy political guardrails were still in place. Now, many are gone. There is a sense that what Trump wants, Trump will be able to get.” Read More

A Texas immigration bill authorizing state officials to arrest and deport immigrants would have no chance of survival but for the “destabilization” of Supreme Court jurisprudence during the Trump administration, says Prof. Peter Spiro. “If we were asking this question five years ago, it would be ‘this is just political theater on Texas’ part, and there’s no way that this law is going to go into effect.” Read More

An anti-immigration bill in Texas faces near-certain review by the Supreme Court. Prof. Peter Spiro notes the high stakes: “If there’s anything left to the norm against state action in immigration, [the court] will dispatch with this law. But it will test it—and I’m not sure the norm stands.” Read More

“Citizenship by investment” programs generate significant revenue for some small countries while offering ultra-rich Americans an escape hatch from political turmoil. But, says Prof. Peter Spiro, they also upend the “traditional historical trappings of citizenship.” Read More

The power of a US passport is eroding, due in part to restrictive entry policies and in part to the country’s reputation for gun violence. Prof. Peter Spiro explains the impact on the US’s global standing and soft power. Read More