Aaliyah was denied American citizenship.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton ( [ ɑ : ˈliːə ] January 16 , 1979 -- August 25 , 2001 ) was an American singer , actress , and model . She was born in Brooklyn , New York , and raised in Detroit , Michigan . Birthright generation is a term used by immigrant advocates to identify U.S. born citizens ; citizens are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution , which grants American citizenship to all babies born on American soil whether the child is born to one or both undocumented parents . New York is a state in the northeastern United States , and is the 27th-most extensive , fourth-most populous , and seventh-most densely populated U.S. state .