Trump Challenges Birthright Citizenship in New Executive Order
President Donald Trump has reignited the national debate over birthright citizenship, claiming that the 14th Amendment was intended solely for former slaves and not for what he calls “modern-day gate-crashers.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that America’s founding fathers would be outraged by the idea that immigrants could claim citizenship simply by being born on U.S. soil.
- “The 14th Amendment Right to American Citizenship never had anything to do with modern-day ‘gate-crashers,’ illegal immigrants who break the law by being in our country,” Trump wrote.
- “It had everything to do with granting citizenship to former slaves. Our Founding Fathers are ‘spinning in their graves’ at the idea that our country can be taken away from us.”
Trump’s Executive Order Faces Legal Hurdles
Shortly after his second inauguration last month, Trump signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.
However, federal courts have swiftly moved to block the order, calling it unconstitutional.
- On Thursday, a federal judge in Boston, Leo Sorokin, issued an injunction against the order.
- Earlier in the week, Judge Joseph Laplante in New Hampshire also ruled against it.
- Similar rulings in Seattle and Maryland have further stalled its implementation.
Legal experts argue that the 14th Amendment explicitly guarantees citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” Any attempt to alter that through executive action is expected to face a lengthy Supreme Court battle.
A Longstanding Republican Debate
The issue of birthright citizenship has been a major talking point among Republican hardliners, with Trump himself having repeatedly called for its abolition since his first term in office.
Critics, including civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, argue that Trump’s stance contradicts the U.S. Constitution and is an attempt to fuel anti-immigration sentiment ahead of the 2028 election.
- “This is not about protecting America; it’s about undermining a fundamental constitutional right,” said Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).
On the other hand, Trump’s supporters claim that ending birthright citizenship is necessary to prevent abuse of the system and curb illegal immigration.
- “No other nation in the world has anything like this. Our lawyers and judges have to be tough and protect America!” Trump insisted.
What’s Next?
With multiple court rulings blocking the executive order, the battle over birthright citizenship is now expected to head to the Supreme Court, where conservative justices hold a majority.
While Trump remains determined to reshape U.S. immigration policy, legal experts believe that any change to the 14th Amendment would require a constitutional amendment—a process that Democrats are likely to resist fiercely.
For now, birthright citizenship remains intact, but the debate is far from over.
