Like millions of others, I am grateful to have been granted with American citizenship by birth. Citizenship is granted to everyone born within the territory of the United States. Yet I wish to recognize the hundreds of thousands of people each year who leave their countries in search of a life filled with opportunity and hope. I was fortunate to be a birthright citizen. My parents, unlike me, sacrificed everything to leave their home in Eastern Europe (the former USSR). They came to America with a single vision, to give their children the chance to live free, with rights that could never be taken away. Their courage will never be forgotten by me nor my siblings, for in their journey they sought the basic rights of liberty and justice for all. By law, any person, citizen or not is entitled to certain basic rights. One of the rights is due process, guaranteed to everyone within the nation by the 14th Amendment by the U.S. Constitution. This amendment not only grants citizenship to those born here but also sets a basic layout for immigration and naturalization. The freedom to become a citizen can make life better because it changes a dream into belonging of a new nation. It gives families security and safety, the ability to pursue the American dream, and the assurance that their voices are heard. It allows newcomers to share equally the promise of liberty and justice for all, proving that America is welcoming those who seek a better future, for them, or future generations.