Former President Donald Trump seeks to end automatic citizenship rights for children born in the U.S. under certain conditions, sparking legal and political debate.
In the latest development in the ongoing debate over immigration policy, former U.S. President
Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to end the practice of birthright citizenship, a policy enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
This practice grants citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status.
The proposed change targets children born in the United States to parents who are either undocumented or not permanent legal residents.
Trump argues that this policy has been historically misunderstood and misapplied, despite its origins in the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, which aimed to provide citizenship to formerly enslaved African Americans and their descendants.
Several notable figures, including celebrities such as Bruce Lee and Renée Zellweger, have acquired U.S. citizenship through this legal provision due to their birth in the United States to foreign parents.
This has fueled the enduring narrative of the 'American Dream,' symbolizing opportunities and new beginnings for families from different continents.
Legal experts and constitutional scholars have pointed out that any executive action to overturn birthright citizenship could face significant legal challenges, as it would potentially conflict with the constitutional provisions explicitly laid out in the Fourteenth Amendment.
Critics argue that a unilateral decision to amend or reinterpret such a constitutionally protected right may be deemed unconstitutional.
Eighteen U.S. states have already expressed opposition to any executive orders intending to curtail birthright citizenship.
These states argue that any attempts to alter the current framework would likely need to go through a rigorous constitutional amendment process rather than being decided by executive action.
The debate over birthright citizenship is set against a broader backdrop of immigration policy discussions that became a focal point during Trump's presidency and remain a contentious issue in U.S. politics.
As Trump signals a continued focus on this area in his announced 2024 election campaign, discussions around immigration reform and constitutional interpretation are likely to intensify.