Prez’s executive order plan ‘a political ploy’

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s claim that he can strip citizenship rights from U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants by executive order was dismissed by experts and lawmakers of both parties. But it underscored his intent to make hardline immigration plans — even those resting on shaky legal grounds — the heart of his closing arguments ahead of next week’s midterms.

“This is, frankly, a political ploy,” said Linda Chavez, director of the Becoming American Initiative and former White House aide to President Reagan. “He’s trying to rile up his base by throwing a bone to his most virulently anti-immigration supporters.”

Trump’s claim of executive authority came a day after his administration announced the deployment of 5,200 troops to the southern border to stop Central American migrants from entering the United States. Laws permit non-citizens to make asylum claims and prohibit the military from acting as law enforcement on U.S. soil. Homeland Security and Defense Department officials said the actions were within the law, but groups such as the ACLU said they are preparing legal challenges.

After Trump’s executive order comment drew broad skepticism, Sen. Lindsey Graham promised to introduce legislation supporting Trump’s birthright citizenship ban — a proposal that is also constitutionally dubious.

In a WVLK radio interview, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) said such a move would require a constitutional amendment — with a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress as well as ratification by three quarters of the states.

“As a conservative, I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution, and I think in this case the 14th Amendment is pretty clear, and that would involve a very, very lengthy constitutional process,” Ryan said.

But Ryan expressed support for the sentiment behind Trump’s proposal.

“Where we obviously totally agree with the president is getting at the root issue here, which is unchecked illegal immigration,” Ryan said.

Aiming at the constitutional provision that underpins a host of crucial protections goes far beyond immigration, Chavez said.

“The 14th Amendment is very broad, it doesn’t just grant citizenship,” Chavez said. “It guarantees the equal protection under law of all persons in the United States, not just citizens.”