Donald Trump, the president-elect, has pledged to abolish birthright citizenship, which would change the definition of American citizenship and rethink U.S. immigration policy. Nonetheless, it is anticipated that this contentious initiative will encounter formidable legal and constitutional obstacles.
Anyone born in the United States is automatically granted U.S. citizenship under the 14th Amendment’s birthright clause, regardless of the immigration status of their parents. Trump contends that the provision encourages “birth tourism” and illegal immigration and is being misused.
Trump’s Proposals
In a recent interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump restated his idea, saying he would try to abolish birthright citizenship “because it’s ridiculous.” Trump has previously proposed issuing an executive order to require that at least one parent must, though he did not specify the process.
