[SteveH]

One thing that England has separating itself from Europe that the USA does not have to separate itself from Mexico is the English Channel. This in turn might have led England to adopt a more “liberal” attitude towards jus solis based citizenship. I know both this and the NBC issue have been argued to death on FR in the past and so I must admit that here I have many more questions than answers.

[DiogenesLamp]

One thing that England has separating itself from Europe that the USA does not have to separate itself from Mexico is the English Channel. This in turn might have led England to adopt a more “liberal” attitude towards jus solis based citizenship.

"Jus Soli" pretty much comes from Calvin's Case. And *THAT* was not even unanimous. With the King desperately needing the Judges to proclaim Jus Soli as the basis for Subject status, two Judges yet refused to do so.

Calvin's case was decided on the basis of the political necessity for it to be decided that way, and not because it was the accepted law at that time. Why else would two Judges dissent?

There are English statutes that call into question this blanket "Jus Soli" view of English subjectude.

"Denizens" in England were actually a third catagory. Not an Alien, and not a Subject. They were tolerated, but they could not inherit land, or leave land to their children. They were forbidden from engaging in all sorts of tradecraft and businesses.

They were like second class citizens, but they weren't "citizens" at all. (Nor Subjects.)