What is one way to acquire citizenship in the U.S.?

Acquiring citizenship in the U.S. can occur in several ways, and one of the most fundamental methods is being born in the country or going through the naturalization process. Being born in the U.S. guarantees citizenship due to the principle of birthright citizenship established by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. This means that anyone born within the borders of the United States automatically becomes a U.S. citizen, regardless of the immigration status of their parents.

Naturalization, on the other hand, is the legal process through which a foreign national can become a U.S. citizen after meeting specific eligibility requirements, such as residency, language proficiency, and passing a civics test. This dual avenue—birthright citizenship and naturalization—captures the essential methods through which individuals can acquire citizenship in the U.S. Other choices may present valid scenarios related to immigration or legal residency but do not encapsulate the primary methods of gaining citizenship as effectively as the option of being born in the U.S. or undergoing the naturalization process.