The elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, attacked birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, calling it "ridiculous."
According to this provision, any person born in U.S. territory automatically acquires citizenship, regardless of their parents' immigration status. However, Trump aims to put an end to this, as he reiterated on Sunday in an interview with Kristen Welker for NBC's "Meet the Press."
"We have to get rid of it," Trump said, describing it as "ridiculous" afterwards.
"We're the only country that has it, you know?" he added.
However, U.S. media on Monday corrected the elected president and clarified that more than 30 countries grant citizenship by birthright, including Canada and Brazil.
Trump suggested that he will try to abolish this right through an executive action, a move that will almost certainly face legal challenges in the courts.
Background
Donald Trump made a similar threat several times during his previous administration.
"We are taking a very serious look at the right to citizenship by birth, where one has a baby on our land, crosses the border, has a baby. Congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen (...) Frankly, it’s ridiculous," he told the press outside the White House in 2019.
During an interview with “Axios on HBO,” he lamented that the mere fact of being born on American soil automatically grants a person U.S. citizenship.
"We are the only country in the world where a person comes, has a baby, and the baby is practically a citizen of the United States (...) with all its benefits. It's ridiculous. And it has to stop," he said at that moment.
Both previous statements confirm that Trump has held the same views for many years regarding what he himself has termed "anchor babies."
Mixed-status families: "I don’t want to tear families apart."
The issue of families with mixed immigration status was also discussed in the interview this Sunday.
Welker asked about the approximately four million families in the United States that have mixed immigration status, meaning that some members are legal citizens while others are not.
Trump stated that he will avoid separating families; he wants to keep them together, even if that means deporting everyone.
"I don't want to separate families. So the only way to keep families together is to keep them united and send them all back," he stated.
In response to the question of whether this would mean a return to the "zero tolerance" policy implemented during his first administration, which separated families at the border as a deterrent, Trump denied that it would be necessary.
"We do not have to separate families. We will send the entire family back to the country they came from in a very humane way," he said.
However, there was one exception: “If they come here illegally, but their family is here legally, then the family has an option. The person who entered illegally can leave, or they can all leave together.”
Mass deportations: "It has to be done."
Donald Trump reiterated that he "would have to" deport all undocumented immigrants.
"I believe we need to do it," he emphasized.
He said that deportations would begin with immigrants who have committed crimes and then expand to "people who are not criminals."
However, he refrained from detailing which crimes would be considered in this policy, simply stating that it is necessary to have "rules, regulations, laws" to address the issue.
"They entered illegally. You know, the people who have been treated very unfairly are the ones who have been waiting in line for 10 years to enter the country," Trump argued.
He added that action must start with the criminals: “We have to remove the criminals from our country. But we are beginning with the criminals, and then we will see how it goes.”
When pressed about who would be next on the list, Trump responded vaguely: “The others are other people outside of the criminals.”
The tightening of border restrictions has been a cornerstone of Trump's presidential campaign, both in 2016 and in his recent victory.
During his first administration, he highlighted acts of violence committed by undocumented immigrants as a justification for his policies.
However, recent studies, such as one from the National Institute of Justice, show that undocumented immigrants are arrested for violent crimes at significantly lower rates than native-born U.S. citizens.
Trump's return to the White House appears to signal a toughening of the immigration policies that defined his first term.
His comments on mass deportation and the elimination of birthright citizenship highlight his intent to fulfill campaign promises, even though these measures face serious legal and humanitarian challenges.
In the coming weeks, Trump is expected to announce more details about his immigration agenda, as concerns rise over the potential impact these measures could have on immigrant families and communities across the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions about Donald Trump's Immigration Plan and Birthright Citizenship
What is citizenship by birthright in the United States?
Birthright citizenship is a principle established by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution that grants automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Donald Trump has described this provision as "ridiculous" and has expressed his intention to abolish it through executive action.
What measures does Donald Trump plan to take to eliminate birthright citizenship?
Trump has suggested that he will attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship through an executive action, although such a measure will likely encounter legal challenges in the courts, given that birthright citizenship is constitutionally protected by the 14th Amendment.
What are Donald Trump's plans for mass deportation?
Donald Trump has announced a plan to carry out the largest deportation in the history of the United States. This plan includes the deportation of undocumented immigrants, starting with those who have criminal records, and could extend to other groups as well. It also includes measures such as suspending visas for countries that do not cooperate with the deportations.
How many countries grant citizenship by birthright?
Contrary to Trump's claims, over 30 nations grant citizenship by birthright, including countries like Canada and Brazil, which refutes the notion that the United States is the only country with this provision.
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