Political Junkie

Political Junkie

Get breaking news stories and important updates around the 2016 Presidential Election race

 

President Trump Considering Plan To End Birthright Citizenship

President Donald Trump said that he is considering a plan to end birthright citizenship using an executive order. Speaking with Axios on HBO, the president explained that ending the practice does not require a constitutional amendment or an act of Congress. 

"It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't," Trump said. "You can definitely do it with an Act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order."

Since the 1960's, the 14th Amendment has been interpreted to grant citizenship to any child born on American soil, regardless of the legal status of their parents. 

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."

Michael Anton, a former national security adviser for Trump, explained to Fox News that "there’s a clause in the middle of the amendment that people ignore or they misinterpret – subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

"What they are saying is, if you are born on U.S. soil subject to the jurisdiction of the United States – meaning you’re the child of citizens or the child of legal immigrants, then you are entitled to citizenship,” Anton said. “If you are here illegally, if you owe allegiance to a foreign nation, if you’re the citizen of a foreign country, that clause does not apply to you."

If Trump were to attempt to reinterpret the meaning of the 14th Amendment using an executive order he would likely face a lengthy legal battle, which could ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.  


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content