From the link above:

“Further, a 1662 act declared that “all children born in this country shall be held bond or free only according to the condition of the mother.” This legal rule, known as partus sequitur ventrem (the offspring follows the mother)

Read more: Slavery, Law Of - Southern Slave Law in the Nineteenth Century., Northern Law., Slavery and National Law., partus sequitur ventrem law.jrank.org
“

I have to wonder how this could be used to day in regards to immigrants …. It’s probably already been put forth, I just missed it.