Methodology The research for this report was carried out in Spanish and Portuguese. A small portion of the Brazil research was supported by an in-country research consultant, and some of the information on the practices in Chile was obtained from partner organizations Universidad Diego Portales and Universidad Alberto Hurtado.1 The author translated the information contained in this report into English as the research progressed. Country Selection Criteria A fully comprehensive study would examine the practices in place in every country in the Americas and compare them, but limited resources made that impossible. Focusing on three countries made it possible for this report to provide a level of detail vital to the questions this report addresses; future research may apply this report’s methodology in other countries of interest. Brazil, Chile, and Colombia were chosen due to several factors, including some variety in the legal frameworks being implemented, historical backgrounds, migration patterns, population size, and economic and political contexts. Brazil, Chile, and Colombia have populations—such as African descendants and indigenous peoples— that have been discriminated against, including in the granting (or withholding) of citizenship. Brazil was identified as one country of study because it appears to represent particularly solid protection from statelessness. Brazil’s Constitution provides for unrestricted jus soli; if the law is applied in strict observance of the written text, every child born in Brazilian territory should immediately be recognized as a Brazilian national. BORN IN THE AMERICAS 9