Vivek Ramaswamy, a GOP candidate, recently sparked controversy when he stated his intention to deport the children of undocumented immigrants along with their families, even though these children are already U.S. citizens. Ramaswamy’s argument is based on the legally contested questions surrounding the interpretation of the 14th amendment, specifically whether the child of an illegal immigrant should be considered a birthright citizen.
Ramaswamy is not alone in his stance, as former President Trump also expressed his desire to end birthright citizenship through an executive order if he were to be reinstated. However, despite these Republican candidates’ plans, a majority of Americans are in favor of maintaining birthright citizenship. In a poll conducted after Trump’s announcement, only a quarter of respondents supported ending birthright citizenship, while 15 percent remained undecided.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has similarly vowed to end birthright citizenship, claiming that current citizenship rules in the U.S. contradict the original understanding of the 14th Amendment. DeSantis’ immigration plan, titled “No Excuses,” emphasizes the need to take action to prevent the notion that the children of illegal immigrants are entitled to birthright citizenship if they are born in the United States.
In conclusion, the issue of birthright citizenship has become a contentious topic within the GOP, with candidates like Ramaswamy and DeSantis aiming to overhaul current immigration policies. However, the majority of Americans still support birthright citizenship, indicating a divergence between public opinion and the views of these Republican candidates.