LOS ANGELES, April 8: A proposed constitutional amendment that would redefine American citizenship requirements was introduced in Congress on Monday by Mark Foley, a Republican from West Palm Beach.

The amendment would revise the definition of citizenship as set forth in the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868. That amendment says “All persons born... in the United States... are citizens of the United States.”

The definition of citizenship became an issue last year when Taliban fighter Yaser Esam Hamdi was captured by American forces in Afghanistan.

Mr Hamdi was born in Louisiana while his parents, who are Saudi nationals, were temporarily working in the United States.

He left the US as a young child and never returned until his capture. He is now being held as an “enemy combatant” at Norfolk, Virginia, but his trial has been complicated by his citizenship status.

“America must stop giving away citizenship like free AOL hours,” Mr Foley said. “America must protect Americans. It cannot do that as diligently when the threat, more and more, comes from within.” He noted that most other developed countries, eg the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Germany and Italy, have similar citizenship requirements and do not automatically confer citizenship at birth.