If Trump is re-elected in 2024, he has pledged to take immediate action by issuing an executive order that would bring an end to birthright citizenship.
This promise forms a crucial part of Trump’s “Agenda 47” campaign, which he unveiled exclusively on Truth Social earlier this week. His objective is to address the issue of “birth tourism” by imposing restrictions on automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants within the United States.
In his campaign video, Trump emphasizes the significance of securing the borders and outlines his plan to sign the executive order on his first day in office during his next term. The order would clarify to federal agencies that, in accordance with a proper interpretation of the law, the children of illegal immigrants would no longer receive automatic U.S. citizenship.
According to Trump, these children currently benefit from various government privileges such as welfare, taxpayer-funded healthcare, voting rights, chain migration, and numerous other advantages. He asserts that these benefits act as incentives for individuals to violate U.S. laws, resulting in an influx of illegal immigrants across the borders.
In Trump’s words, his plan aims to eliminate a significant incentive for continued illegal immigration, discourage potential migrants from making the journey, and encourage those already residing in the country unlawfully to return to their home nations.
Later in the video, Trump asserts that his order would also put an end to the unfair practice known as birth tourism. He describes this as the act of individuals from around the world residing in hotels during the final stages of pregnancy to illicitly acquire U.S. citizenship for their child. Many of these individuals plan to exploit “chain migration” as a means to bypass the immigration system and bring their families to the United States.
Trump deems this behavior repugnant and condemns its continuation. He emphasizes that, for eligibility, at least one parent must be a citizen or a legal resident.
It’s worth noting that Trump previously discussed ending birthright citizenship through an executive order during his first term and successfully implemented this change.
However, some legal experts caution that such an executive order could potentially violate the 14th Amendment, which states that “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.”
Should Trump indeed issue this executive order, it remains possible that a court could invalidate it.
In his latest campaign film, Trump claims that “many scholars” argue that birthright citizenship is founded on a historical misconception and a deliberate misinterpretation of the law by advocates of open borders.
As he concludes the video, Trump promises that from day one, the country will experience greatness once again. He envisions a nation that protects its borders, prioritizes quality education, and places the United States of America at the forefront.