Birthright Citizenship and Youth Crime

This paper studies the impact of birthright citizenship on youth crime. We leverage a reform that automatically granted birthright citizenship to eligible immigrant children born in Germany after January 1, 2000 and administrative crime data from three federal states. Immigrant youth who acquired citizenship at birth are substantially less likely to engage in criminal activity, with estimates indicating a 70 percent reduction. These results are particularly relevant in light of ongoing debates in the United States about abolishing birthright citizenship. Our findings suggest that inclusive citizenship policies can reduce crime and its associated costs, which in turn could strengthen social cohesion.