[John Valentine]

Foreign diplomats and the like are truly not subject to our jurisdiction, which is why their children do not get automatic US citizenship upon being born in this country. That's what the clause means.

No sirreee, Bobby. no cigar for you!

It's true that under our present twisted interpretation of the language of the 14th we only apply the porvisions to the children of accredited diplomats, but that's an error.

The drafters NEVER intended the phrase "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" to refer to mere legal jurisdiction. Anyone who has given a fair reading to either the plethora of articles on this subject or to the legislative history of the 14th would know that.

[Petronski]

The drafters NEVER intended the phrase "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" to refer to mere legal jurisdiction. Anyone who has given a fair reading to either the plethora of articles on this subject or to the legislative history of the 14th would know that.

That sounds like a minority interpretation, not a clear and settled matter.