In a campaign video released on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump reignited a contentious debate by declaring his intention to ban birthright citizenship if elected president again in 2024.
What Happened: Trump's recent campaign video once again brought attention to his firm stance on birthright citizenship, reigniting a highly controversial proposal that he had previously discussed throughout his term. Trump argued that abolishing birthright citizenship would act as a deterrent against illegal immigration.
See Also: Trump’s Staff Reportedly Moved Boxes Of Papers A Day Before FBI Came Knocking On Mar-A-Lago’s Doors
Promising to issue an executive order on his first day in office, if re-elected, Trump asserted that the children of undocumented immigrants would no longer receive automatic U.S. citizenship. He claimed that it would diminish the incentives for undocumented immigrants to enter the country and encourage those already present to return to their home countries.
The former president went on to amplify anti-immigrant sentiment by alleging that millions of undocumented immigrants were coming from places like mental institutions and prisons, painting a bleak picture of those seeking a better life in the U.S.
The proposed executive order planned for the first day of a potential second term in office would introduce a requirement that at least one parent be an American citizen or lawful permanent resident for their children to be granted automatic U.S. citizenship, according to Trump's campaign.
Why It Matters: Trump's previous attempts to pursue this controversial change during his presidency faced significant opposition. Despite his claims that an executive order could achieve this goal, constitutional experts and politicians argued that a constitutional amendment would be required.
Trump also criticized President Joe Biden and highlighted the record numbers of migrants apprehended while illegally crossing the border in recent years under Biden's administration.
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