President-elect Trump says he will move quickly after taking office to end the policy of granting automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. territory. This policy benefits illegal aliens in the U.S. by making them citizens. With that status they are eligible for full public benefits (thus benefitting the parents). Also, the children’s citizenship can serve as an “anchor” for the parents to stay in the U.S. Said Trump: “We have to end it. It’s ridiculous,”
Supporters of birthright citizenship maintain that it is required by the 14th Amendment which states that people under U.S. jurisdiction, born on U.S. soil, are citizens. But it is unclear whether “jurisdiction” refers to persons with loyalty to America (which excludes illegal aliens) and people who are simply residents of the U.S.
Previous Supreme Court rulings have given credence to both views. It would be helpful if Trump would issue a directive against birthright citizenship. That would almost certainly send the question to the Supreme Court, which might finally hand down a definitive ruling.
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