Trump Denounces Birthright Citizenship as "Absurd" and Outlines His Plans for Change

President-elect Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on birthright citizenship, a provision enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, labeling it as "absurd." This constitutional guarantee grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. In a recent interview with Kristen Welker on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump expressed his intent to terminate this right, saying, "We need to end it."

Trump further argued, "We're the only country that has it, you know?" However, American media outlets have corrected this claim, noting that over 30 countries, including Canada and Brazil, offer birthright citizenship. Trump's proposal to abolish this right through executive action is expected to face significant legal challenges in court.

The president-elect's stated goal is to prevent children of undocumented immigrants from automatically gaining U.S. citizenship benefits. During the interview, the topic of mixed-status families also came up. Welker inquired about the roughly four million families in the United States with mixed immigration status, where some members are legal citizens while others are not. Trump emphasized his desire to keep families together, even if it means deporting them all. "I don't want to separate families. So the only way to keep the family unit intact is to send them all back," he asserted.

The Controversy Around Family Separations

When asked whether this approach would reinstate the "zero-tolerance" policy from his first term, which separated families at the border as a deterrent, Trump denied its necessity. "We don't have to separate families. We will send the entire family back very humanely, to their country of origin," he said. However, he did note an exception: "If they come here illegally, but their family is legally here, the family has a choice. The person who entered illegally can leave, or they can all leave together."

Mass Deportation: An Uphill Battle

Trump reiterated his stance on deporting all undocumented immigrants, stating, "I believe it has to be done." He emphasized that deportations would begin with those who have committed crimes, and then extend to "non-criminals." Yet, he avoided specifying which crimes would trigger deportation, merely stating the need for "rules, regulations, and laws" to address the issue.

"They entered illegally. You know, the people who have been treated very unfairly are those who have been waiting in line for 10 years to enter the country," Trump remarked. He added that the process should start with criminals: "We need to remove criminals from our country. But we start with criminals, and then we see how it goes." Pressed for details on who would be next on the list, Trump responded ambiguously: "The others are people other than criminals."

Tough border restrictions have been a cornerstone of Trump's campaign, both in 2016 and in his recent victory. During his first term, he frequently highlighted violent acts committed by undocumented immigrants to justify his policies. However, recent studies, including one from the National Institute of Justice, indicate that undocumented immigrants are arrested for violent crimes at significantly lower rates than native U.S. citizens.

What Lies Ahead for Immigration Policy

Trump's return to the White House seems to signal a tightening of immigration policies reminiscent of his previous tenure. His comments on mass deportation and the elimination of birthright citizenship underscore his commitment to fulfilling campaign promises, despite the legal and humanitarian challenges these measures may face. In the coming weeks, Trump is expected to release more details on his immigration agenda, raising concerns about the potential impact on immigrant families and communities throughout the United States.