Trump Says He's Looking 'Very Seriously' At Ending Birthright Citizenship

This isn’t the first time Trump has spoken out about his desire to end birthright citizenship in the U.S.

Another day, another complete dumpster fire piece of news from President Donald Trump. Now, he’s telling reporters that he’s considering ending birthright citizenship, that is, allowing children born in the United States to be automatic U.S. citizens regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

Back in October 2018, Trump told Axios that he had run the idea of ending birthright citizenship by his counsel and was heavily considering it via executive order. “It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” Trump said. “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 … with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”

Side note: Axios pointed out that actually, 30 other countries, most in the Western hemisphere, provide birthright citizenship. Not that Trump’s ever let a little old thing like facts bother him.

Now, Trump’s back on his birthright citizenship nonsense telling reporters outside the White House today that his administration is again going to see what they can do about ending it. “We’re looking at that very seriously, birthright citizenship, where you have a baby on our land, you walk over the border, have a baby – congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen. … It’s frankly ridiculous,” he said.

Birthright citizenship, to be clear, doesn’t just apply to people who “walk over the border” and have their child, as Trump suggests. It applies to legal immigrants in this country who aren’t U.S. citizens, too. But of course, he’s not letting the 14th amendment, which was passed right after the Civil War and says citizenship is granted to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States” get in his way.

This is only the latest in Trump’s streak of attacks on immigrants, both legal and undocumented. His vile administration takes every step they can to mistreat immigrants and try to force them to leave the U.S.. And when those seeking asylum or crossing the border illegally are taken into custody? They’re living in squalid conditions, denied appropriate medical care, including flu shots, and being kept in detention far too long. Breastfeeding infants ripped from their mothers’ arms, and kids living all over the country with foster families after being separated from their parents — some that the Trump administration can’t even account for.

It’s been almost three years of Trump in office and he’s long stopped attempting to hide his blatantly racist views toward any non-white folks in this country. It’s on everyone in a position of privilege to speak out against every single atrocity he oversees or tries implementing. The happiness and togetherness of families literally depends on it.