Giving immigrant children citizenship at birth cuts their crime rate by 70%

A new study found that giving immigrant children citizenship at birth dramatically cuts their likelihood of committing crimes. In Germany, immigrant youth who received citizenship this way were 70% less likely to engage in criminal activity.

Debates about birthright citizenship have often focused on legal interpretations or national identity. This paper introduces a concrete, measurable outcome: crime reduction. It means governments now have strong evidence that inclusive citizenship policies can reduce social costs, rather than just being a matter of principle.