Former U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a new promise, declaring that if he is reelected, he will eliminate birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants on his inaugural day in office. In a recent policy video,
Trump asserted, “As part of my border security plan, I will sign an executive order on day one of my new term, clarifying that children of undocumented immigrants will no longer receive automatic U.S. citizenship.”
This proposition encompasses various nationalities, including Nigerians.
This announcement coincided with the 125th anniversary of the Supreme Court case that established birthright citizenship as a constitutional right.
Trump initially introduced this concept in 2018 during his presidency, questioning the need for a constitutional amendment.
He argued that a congressional act or executive order could accomplish the objective.
However, legal experts, as cited by The Hill, contend that Trump lacks the authority to implement such a change, as the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to individuals “born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
While many countries in the Americas and Western Europe grant automatic citizenship at birth, Trump criticized the provision of citizenship and associated benefits to children of undocumented immigrants, labeling it a “magnet.”
He argued that this policy rewards those who violated U.S. laws and grants access to welfare, taxpayer-funded healthcare, voting rights, chain migration, and numerous other government benefits that also extend to their undocumented parents.
Trump attributed the surge of “illegal foreign invasion” to President Joe Biden’s policies.
Additionally, Trump pledged that his executive order would prohibit “birth tourism,” which refers to the practice of pregnant women entering the United States legally with a visa, giving birth, and subsequently departing.
Under his proposal, at least one parent would need to be a U.S. citizen or legal resident to confer birthright citizenship.
