Reuters / Al Drago
Donald Trump said he plans to sign an executive order that he claims will terminate the right to U.S. citizenship for babies born in America if their parents are non-citizens or unauthorized immigrants—though it’s far from clear if he has that constitutional power. The president revealed the plan to Axios on HBO, saying: “We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States... with all of those benefits... It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.” It’s the latest escalation of Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric ahead of the midterm elections, which are now one week away. Any move would end up in court if the president goes ahead with his dubious plan. The 14th Amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” But Trump insisted he has the power, saying: “It’ll happen... with an executive order.”