Karoline Leavitt and JD Vance Support Trump’s Citizenship Order Challenge
Amidst ongoing legal battles, the Trump administration is pushing forward with its controversial stance on birthright citizenship.
According to the Christian Post, The administration's effort to halt automatic citizenship for certain individuals born in the U.S. is being taken to the Supreme Court.
In an assertive move, Karoline Leavitt, the nation's youngest-ever White House Press Secretary at age 27, reiterated on Tuesday that the Trump administration views birthright citizenship as unconstitutional. This declaration supports an executive order aimed at redefining the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause.
Historical Context and Legal Foundations
The 14th Amendment, established in 1868, originally guaranteed citizenship for all children born on U.S. soil, primarily to help former slaves gain citizenship after the Civil War. However, the current administration argues that it does not apply universally.
President Trump reinforced this view by signing the "Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship" executive order as one of his first actions in office.
Reactions and Legal Actions Prompt a National Debate
Following the administration’s steps, Vice President JD Vance supported the argument during a recent statement over the weekend, emphasizing the need to rethink the policy of granting citizenship to children of non-citizens and temporary visitors simply by birth on American soil.
As Leavitt pointed out, "This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and that is why President Trump signed that executive order." The administration's stance claims that illegal immigrants do not fall under "the laws of this jurisdiction", implying their children should not automatically be granted citizenship.
Initial Legal Challenges and Temporary Blocking
Leavitt highlighted the administration's determination to challenge the legality of automatic birthright citizenship, stating that they were willing to go "to the Supreme Court."
This follows after U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order against the executive order, which had originally aimed to take effect on February 19. The order responded to lawsuits filed by four states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon—and a separate suit from three pregnant non-U.S. citizens, who vehemently opposed the executive order.
Subsequent Remarks and Political Standpoints
Vance further illuminated the administration’s viewpoint, discussing scenarios where individuals come to the U.S. temporarily, arguing that their children should not automatically obtain U.S. citizenship. He mentioned, “If you come here on vacation and you have a baby in an American hospital, that baby doesn’t become an American citizen.” This illustrates a clear departure from traditional interpretations of the 14th Amendment.
The Vice President critiqued what he described as the "dumbest immigration policy in the world," though recognizing that being a nation of immigrants does not necessitate maintaining current birthright citizenship practices.
Navigating Toward a Supreme Court Decision
The administration's push to redefine who qualifies as an American citizen from birth underlines a significant doctrinal shift that could have extensive social and legal repercussions.
The move to appeal the restraining order to the U.S. Supreme Court indicates an escalating battle over immigration and citizenship definitions that could reshape American civil rights. As these events unfold, the future of birthright citizenship hangs in the balance, with potentially dramatic changes to how citizenship is determined in the United States.