Trump scolds Ryan on citizenship

President Donald Trump attacked House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday for criticizing his proposal to prohibit babies born to unauthorized immigrants from obtaining automatic U.S. citizenship.

“Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!” Trump tweeted.

Trump said in an interview with “Axios on HBO” to be broadcast Sunday that he plans to issue an executive order prohibiting “birthright citizenship” for children of non-citizens and undocumented immigrants. The Constitution’s 14th Amendment, however, guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. Ryan criticized Trump’s idea of changing the law by executive order.

The amendment reads: “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.”

Trump said the clause “subject to the jurisdiction” excludes children of undocumented immigrants. Scholars on both the right and left disagree.

White House aides were asked whether an analysis was conducted by the White House counsel, officials at either the Justice or Homeland Security departments, a congressional panel or by a scholar. In each instance, the White House would not say, though officials stopped short of denying the existence of such guidance.