Donald Trump has issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship benefits for US citizens Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders on immigrants since taking office as the 47th president of the United States. He has taken several steps, from revoking US citizenship by birth to declaring a state of emergency at the border. However, on the first day of his second term as president, Trump’s decision to revoke birthright citizenship has already started to be criticized.
Trump is already facing legal challenges from various organizations working on immigrants. These organizations have reacted angrily to his decision to revoke birthright citizenship. One organization said that Trump’s decision will not uphold American values. Another organization said that the Trump administration has started active activities to destroy the lives of immigrants.
Trump was sworn in as US president for a second term on Monday night. In his inauguration speech, he announced that he would take tough action against immigrants. Trump said that he would stop illegal entry into the United States. Trump, describing illegal immigrants as “criminals,” said he would deport millions of immigrants who are in the United States.
The details of Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship are not yet known. However, officials in his administration say Trump wants to eliminate the birthright citizenship benefit.
Under existing US law, a child born in the country is automatically granted US citizenship. In this case, how the child’s parents live in the United States will not be a factor.
Trump wants to change the birthright citizenship rule so that an undocumented, or illegal, immigrant who gives birth in the United States will not automatically receive US citizenship.
Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders on immigrants since taking office as the 47th president of the United States. He has taken several steps, from revoking US citizenship by birth to declaring a state of emergency at the border. However, on the first day of his second term as president, Trump’s decision to revoke birthright citizenship has already started to be criticized.
Trump is already facing legal challenges from various organizations working on immigrants. These organizations have reacted angrily to his decision to revoke birthright citizenship. One organization said that Trump’s decision will not uphold American values. Another organization said that the Trump administration has started active activities to destroy the lives of immigrants.
Trump was sworn in as US president for a second term on Monday night. In his inauguration speech, he announced that he would take tough action against immigrants. Trump said that he would stop illegal entry into the United States. Trump, describing illegal immigrants as “criminals,” said he would deport millions of immigrants who are in the United States.
The details of Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship are not yet known. However, officials in his administration say Trump wants to eliminate the birthright citizenship benefit.
Under existing US law, a child born in the country is automatically granted US citizenship. In this case, how the child’s parents live in the United States will not be a factor.
Trump wants to change the birthright citizenship rule so that an undocumented, or illegal, immigrant who gives birth in the United States will not automatically receive US citizenship.
It is not yet clear how Trump intends to implement the new rule on birthright citizenship. This is because birthright citizenship is a protected right in the US Constitution. If Trump wants to take away this constitutional right to birthright citizenship, he will need the support of two-thirds of the members of the lower house of Congress and the upper house of the Senate.
Trump has taken responsibility and instructed federal government agencies not to issue US citizenship documents to children born to illegal immigrants or those in the United States on temporary visas. Organizations working on immigration have reacted angrily to Trump’s decision. They say that Trump’s order is unconstitutional.
Immediately after Trump signed the executive order, an organization called the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU) said that they would sue the Trump administration over such an order. The organization said in a statement on Monday, “The order to deny citizenship to children born in the United States is not only unconstitutional, but also a reckless and cruel rejection of American values.”
Those directly affected
A report by the US-based media outlet Politico highlighted the impact of Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. It said that the order has instructed federal agencies to deny citizenship to children born in the United States; whose mothers are in the country illegally or on various visas, including tourism, and whose fathers are not US citizens or legal permanent residents.
Children born after 30 days from now will not be issued a US passport and visa if either parent is not a US citizen or a green card holder.
What surprises does Trump have in store, including revoking citizenship by birth, increasing tariffs?
More than a century ago, a US Supreme Court ruling stated that children born in the United States to foreign parents would be granted citizenship by descent under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The only exception to this would be if the parents were foreign diplomats and had diplomatic immunity under US law.
However, many advocates for stricter immigration see the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in a broader context. The current Supreme Court could also approve further restrictions on US citizenship. It is still unclear whether Trump has the authority to issue this executive order without the approval of Congress, and whether the matter will be resolved in court.
