Trump plans to sign executive order ending birthright citizenship
President Donald Trump is planning to sign an executive order ending the constitutional right to citizenship for anyone born in the U.S.
In his latest attempt to stir fears over immigration ahead of the midterm elections next week, Trump told “Axios on HBO” he believes he can unilaterally revoke birthright citizenship _ despite the 14th Amendment guaranteeing such a right for any child born on American soil.
Trump’s comments are the his latest attempt to make his hardline immigration policies the center of conversation before the election day on Nov. 6. He and other Republicans believes focusing on immigration will energize his supporters and help the GOP keep control of Congress.
The president seems unconcerned with the question of whether or not the move is legal.
“They’re saying I can do it just with an executive order,” he said.
Trump says White House lawyers are reviewing his proposal. It’s unclear how quickly he’d act on an executive order.
“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits,” Trump incorrectly told Axios. “It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”
Across the globe, 30 countries grant citizenship upon birth.
Trump and other conservatives have frequently said they want to stop non-citizens from entering the U.S. and giving birth to so-called “anchor babies.”
In the weeks leading up to the midterms, Trump has railed against immigrants and turned his attention to a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants bound for the U.S., where many members plan to apply for asylum.
The group is thousands of miles away and will not reach the U.S. border for weeks.
And yet, Trump has vowed to send the military to the border with Mexico to stop the migrants from seeking asylum and has repeatedly made controversial remarks about the caravan, which he has referred to as an “invasion” of migrants “and some very bad people.”
“Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!” Trump tweeted on Monday.