Once Again Confronting Illegal Immigrants
The Concept of 'Birthright Citizenship' Specified in the Constitution
Likely Difficult to Abolish by Executive Order
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is running in the 2024 presidential election, has declared that he will abolish 'birthright citizenship' through an executive order if he wins re-election.
On the 31st (local time), Trump announced on his website, "On the first day of my administration, I will issue an executive order to end citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and ban Birth Tourism." In other words, he pledged to prohibit so-called 'birth tourism' aimed at obtaining U.S. citizenship.
He pointed out, "Joe Biden has allowed a record number of illegal foreigners to cross the border," and added, "According to Biden's policy, children of illegal border crossers automatically become U.S. citizens."
He continued, "(If that happens) they become eligible for numerous government benefits such as welfare, taxpayer-funded medical services, and voting rights," explaining, "This is a reward for breaking U.S. law and acts like a magnet attracting illegal immigrants."
He also emphasized, "As part of the border security plan, on the first day of my term, I will sign an executive order clarifying the correct interpretation of the law so that future children of illegal immigrants are not automatically granted citizenship."
He added, "This executive order will also end the unfair birth tourism practice where hundreds of thousands of people from around the world stay in hotels during the last few weeks of pregnancy to illegally obtain citizenship for their child."
Trump said, "This is a terrible and absurd practice, but we have just been letting it happen," and stated, "To qualify (for citizenship for the child), at least one parent must be a citizen or a legal resident."
'Birthright Citizenship' Stated in the Constitution... Difficult to Abolish by Executive Order
The United States adopts the principle of jus soli, granting citizenship to all newborns born on U.S. territory, territorial waters, or airspace regardless of their parents' nationality, under the 'birthright citizenship' system.
This is based on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens of the United States.
According to The Hill, a congressional news outlet, the interpretation of the 14th Amendment was confirmed by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1898 on a lawsuit filed by a Chinese American.
Previously, Trump also advocated abolishing birthright citizenship during his presidency, claiming, "Only the U.S. has such a system." However, the consensus among U.S. media is that "birthright citizenship itself is a concept stated in the Constitution, so it cannot be abolished by a presidential executive order."
Moreover, according to a foreign news report, 33 countries worldwide automatically grant citizenship to those born within their borders, so Trump's claim that this system exists only in the U.S. was reported to be incorrect.
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