Politics
Trump pledges to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented migrants if elected
The Republican presidential nominee said in a video posted on Twitter that one of his first acts in office if elected president would be to issue an executive order ending what is known as birthright citizenship
May 31, 2023 8:48am
Updated: May 31, 2023 8:48am
Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he plans to end automatic citizenship for children of undocumented migrants that are born in the United States if he were to win the 2024 presidential elections.
The Republican presidential nominee said in a video posted on Twitter that one of his first acts in office if elected president would be to issue an executive order ending what is known as birthright citizenship.
"Joe Biden has launched an illegal foreign invasion of our country, allowing a record number of illegal aliens to storm across our borders," Trump said in the video. "Even though these millions of illegal border crossers have entered the country unlawfully, all of their future children will become automatic U.S. citizens. Can you imagine?"
"This policy is a reward for breaking the laws of the United States," he added.
#AGENDA47: President Trump’s plan to discourage illegal immigration by ENDING automatic citizenship for the children of illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/3iytgg45st
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 30, 2023
Birthright citizenship is part of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, in which citizenship is granted to all individuals who are "born or naturalized in the United States."
Trump’s order, however, would contradict the long-standing interpretation of the amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which has usually been used to give citizenship to individuals born in the country regardless of whether their parents entered the country legally or not.
“As part of my plan to secure the border, on Day One of my new term in office, I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward, the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship,” former President Trump said.
According to Trump’s proposal, to receive birthright citizenship at least one parent has to be an American citizen or a lawful permanent resident in order for the child to automatically become a U.S. citizen.
The executive order is one of the former president’s first major policy announcements since entering the presidential race.
