President Trump is continuing his efforts to deter illegal immigrants from coming into this country.
Trump’s latest move is to create an executive order that will end citizenship benefits for the children born to illegal immigrants in this country.
Frankly Ridiculous
I don’t know a single American that has a problem with a LEGAL immigrant having children here in the states that automatically have citizenship rights.
They came here legally, so they and their children should reap the rewards of adhering to our laws.
That same right, however, currently goes to the children of illegal immigrants who have children here, in essence rewarding them for breaking the law.
On this issue, Trump stated, “Birthright citizenship — where you have a baby in our land, walk over the border, have a baby, congratulations — the baby is now a U.S. citizen.
“We’re looking at it very, very seriously.”
He later added, “We’re looking at birthright citizenship very seriously. It’s frankly ridiculous.”
In October 2018, during an interview with Axios, Trump discussing this very issue, stated, “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 for 85 years, with all of those benefits.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”
Clearly, this has been on Trump’s mind for some time he most assuredly has had his legal team researching it.
Constitutional Challenges
While this will clearly get strong support from immigration advocates, this will absolutely be challenged in court and wind up in front of the Supreme Court.
Trump would be challenging the 14th Amendment of the Constitution with this executive order.
Specifically, Section 1 of the 14th Amendment, which 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. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
The Amendment was first added to the Constitution to grant citizenship specifically to the children of African Americans, even more specifically former slaves, after the Civil War.
Trump challenging the citizenship rights of children of illegal immigrants is a bit of a different twist on previous challenges to this amendment, though.
Slaves were not brought here willingly, while illegal immigrants are breaking the law to enter the country.
There is definitely some wiggle room in here to create a legitimate argument for revoking birthright citizenship for these children, but is this Supreme Court the right Supreme Court to take up this challenge?
There are currently three justices on the conservative side that have no problem crossing over and on such a controversial ruling, one that will clearly be portrayed as racist throughout the process, Trump needs to decide if now is the time to fight this battle.
Source: Daily Mail
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