Trump: End birthright citizenship for some US-born babies


Team Udayavani, Oct 31, 2018, 8:49 AM IST

Washington: President Donald Trump is intensifying his hardline immigration rhetoric heading into the midterm elections, declaring that he wants to order the end of the constitutional right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorised immigrants born in the United States.

Trump made the comments to “Axios on HBO” ahead of elections that he has sought to focus on his hardline immigration policies. Trump, seeking to energise his supporters and help Republicans keep control of Congress, has stoked anxiety about a caravan of Central American migrants making its way to the U.S.-Mexico border.

He is dispatching additional troops and saying he’ll set up tent cities for asylum seekers. Revoking birthright citizenship would spark a court fight over whether the president has the unilateral ability to change an amendment to the Constitution. 

The 14th Amendment guarantees that right for all children born in the US. Asked about the legality of such an executive order, Trump said, “they’re saying I can do it just with an executive order.” 

He added that “we’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States.” An excerpt of the interview was posted on Axios’ website on Tuesday.

The president said White House lawyers are reviewing his proposal. It’s unclear how quickly he would act on an executive order. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.

Some experts questioned whether Trump could follow through. Omar Jadwat, director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union in New York, said Tuesday said the Constitution is very clear.

“If you are born in the United States, you’re a citizen,” he said, adding that it was “outrageous that the president can think he can override constitutional guarantees by issuing an executive order, Jadwat said the president has an obligation to uphold the Constitution. Trump can try to get Congress to pass a constitutional amendment, “but I don’t think they are anywhere close to getting that.” “Obviously, even if he did, it would be subject to court challenge,” he added.

In the final days before the Nov. 6 midterms, Trump has emphasized immigration, as he seeks to counter Democratic enthusiasm. Trump believes that his campaign pledges, including his much-vaunted and still-unfulfilled promise to quickly build a US-Mexico border wall, are still rallying cries for his base and that this latest focus will further erode the enthusiasm gap.

Trump voiced his theory that birthright citizenship could be stripped during his campaign, when he described it as a “magnet for illegal immigration.” During a 2015 campaign stop in Florida, he said: “The birthright citizenship – the anchor baby – birthright citizenship, it’s over, not going to happen.” 

The first line of the 14th Amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” The 14th Amendment was passed by Congress in 1866 during the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War. 

It was ratified in 1868 by three-fourths of the states. By extending citizenship to those born in the US, the amendment nullified an 1857 Supreme Court decision (Dred Scott v Sandford), which ruled that those descended from slaves could not be citizens.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Have won in people’s court, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on by-poll results

Look forward to being your voice in Parliament: Priyanka to people of Wayanad

No row over Maharashtra CM’s post; leaders of Mahayuti will decide: Fadnavis

Delhi Police arrests ‘proclaimed offender’ from Mumbai

Pant may go for higher than Rs 25 crore, owners would not want to miss his X-factor: Raina

Karnataka Assembly bypolls victory: Shivakumar gives credit to CM Siddaramaiah’s leadership

JD(S) breathing its last with Nikhil’s defeat in Channapatna: Yogeeshwara

Related Articles More

Indian-American leaders applaud PM Modi for inclusive growth in India

COP29: Civil society protests climate finance proposal, calls for ‘no deal’ over ‘bad deal’

Bomb disposal squad tackles ‘security incident’ at UK’s Gatwick Airport

Baku climate talks: The ‘X’ factor that could determine future of Global South

India-US ties have strong foundation: White House confident in navigating crisis over Adani bribery charges

MUST WATCH

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava


Latest Additions

Have won in people’s court, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on by-poll results

Not many takers for NOTA in these assembly polls too

UP: Former BJP MLC, aides booked for assaulting man in Shahjahanpur

Look forward to being your voice in Parliament: Priyanka to people of Wayanad

NDA-BJP candidates wining UP bypolls proof of people’s faith in PM Modi: Yogi

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.