Donald Trump is once again shaking up the status quo, this time by targeting birthright citizenship—a long-standing policy rooted in the 14th Amendment. On NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump vowed to scrap the provision on day one of his presidency, reigniting a debate over whether automatic citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil aligns with the amendment’s original intent. Initially crafted to grant citizenship to freed slaves after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment has since morphed into a convenient tool for illegal immigrants and birth tourists to exploit, often at the expense of American taxpayers.
The amendment’s wording is clear enough, stating that citizenship applies to those “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. That very clause already excludes certain groups, like children of foreign diplomats. Yet over time, the interpretation of this clause has expanded to include virtually anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. This has fueled the rise of birth tourism, where expectant mothers from countries like China fly to the U.S. just in time to deliver a baby who, thanks to a legal technicality, becomes an American citizen. For illegal immigrants already residing in the U.S., having a U.S.-born child can complicate deportation efforts, effectively using the child as a shield against immigration enforcement.
Determined to end what he calls a “ridiculous” policy, Trump has suggested both executive action and a constitutional amendment as potential avenues for change. While he acknowledges that altering the Constitution might require a drawn-out process, he’s not deterred. Trump points out that the United States is one of only two developed nations—along with Canada—that grants unrestricted birthright citizenship. Globally, just 33 countries offer this policy, and even then, many impose conditions, such as requiring at least one parent to be a legal resident or citizen. To Trump, America’s permissive approach is an embarrassing anomaly that needs to be brought in line with international norms.
Even as Trump takes a hard line on birthright citizenship, he’s expressed some openness to working with Democrats on addressing the plight of DREAMers—illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who have grown up here. While he’s willing to explore compromises, Trump has made it clear that he won’t budge on his broader agenda to tighten border controls and crack down on illegal immigration. His critics, unsurprisingly, accuse him of promoting policies that would lead to widespread family separations. But Trump’s response is characteristically blunt: deport families as a unit to avoid breaking them up. For Trump, the logic is simple—if you’re here illegally, you don’t get to stay just because you had a child on American soil.
Trump’s approach has, as expected, drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocates, who claim his policies are draconian and heartless. Yet his supporters argue that these measures are long overdue and necessary to restore order at the border. While the battle over birthright citizenship is sure to face legal challenges and fierce political opposition, Trump’s pledge to overhaul America’s immigration system signals that he’s not afraid to tackle controversial issues head-on. Whether he succeeds or not, one thing is certain: the era of exploiting America’s immigration loopholes is nearing its end.
