Trump Attacks Birthright Citizenship, Sparks National Controversy

• Trump Attacks Birthright Citizenship
• Says It Was Meant Only for Former Slaves
• Supreme Court Reviews Executive Order

US President Donald Trump once again stirred controversy on Thursday by claiming that birthright citizenship was originally intended solely to protect the children of slaves after the Civil War.

His remarks came on the same day the US Supreme Court began reviewing whether federal judges have the authority to block his executive order seeking to eliminate this right for children of undocumented immigrants or those with temporary visas.

“Birthright citizenship is about the children of slaves,” Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social.

“As conclusive proof, the Civil War ended in 1865; the bill was introduced in Congress less than a year later, in 1866, and was passed soon after,” he added.

Trump Pushes to Limit Birthright Citizenship

He continued, “It had nothing to do with the illegal immigration of people from all over the world who want to scam our country—something they’ve been doing for many years.”

“Please explain this to the Supreme Court of the United States,” Trump added, directly addressing the nation’s highest court.

In his post, the former president emphasized that in 1866 the country was not facing “a massive influx of people from all over South America and the rest of the world.”

He criticized what he considers a misuse of the US immigration system by foreigners seeking citizenship through opportunistic means.

“Birthright citizenship was not created so that people can take vacations to gain permanent US citizenship by bringing their families with them—laughing all the while at how naïve we are!” he exclaimed.

Trump also made a claim that contradicts international data on birthright citizenship.

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“The United States is the only country in the world that does this, and no one knows why,” he said—despite the fact that more than 30 countries recognize jus soli (right of the soil) to grant nationality.

His message also included a more alarmist attack on US immigration policy.

“Drug cartels love” the current situation in the US, he claimed.

He concluded: “We are, in trying to be politically correct, a stupid country. But in reality, this is the exact opposite of being politically correct—and that’s another factor contributing to the dysfunction of the United States.”

These statements are part of a high-profile legal battle that could reshape the country’s immigration legal landscape.

The executive order signed by Trump in January, following his return to the White House, was quickly blocked by federal judges in Maryland, Washington, and Massachusetts.

The judges ruled that the president cannot alter the Constitution through an executive order, and issued a temporary suspension while the case is resolved.

Now, the Supreme Court—composed of six conservative justices and three liberals—will only assess whether lower courts have the authority to block a presidential order nationwide.

The decision could have a profound impact on the numerous lawsuits filed against the administration by civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups.

The ruling will set a precedent on the power of lower courts versus the Executive Branch in matters of nationwide scope.

Birthright citizenship, enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, has long been a foundational element of the US legal system.

Trump, however, appears determined to reopen the debate, using historical arguments and nationalist rhetoric to push his agenda.

Do you believe birthright citizenship should be eliminated in the US?

SOURCE: EFE