WASHINGTON – House Republicans announced Thursday they are following President Donald Trump’s order to repeal birthright legislation This would change federal immigration law to limit the scope of citizenship, even though the right is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
Trump’s executive order from Monday is already around the corner earnest legal challenges by the Democratic attorneys general and the ACLU, with oral arguments in a multistate case beginning Thursday in federal court in Washington state.
The sponsor of the House bill, H.R. 569Texas GOP Rep. Brian Babin said he welcomes the legal challenges to Trump’s executive order and bill.
“We appreciate the challenges and wanted them,” he said. “So we can take it to the Supreme Court of the United States. It could take up to three years for this matter to reach the Supreme Court and let’s see how they (govern).”
Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who also attended the news conference, said that despite a Supreme Court case in 1898 He expects the GOP bill will be upheld in court because it upholds birthright rights as enshrined in the 14th Amendment.
Other Republicans at the press event included Reps. Mike Collins of Georgia, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, Brandon Gill of Texas, John Rose of Tennessee, Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and Ralph Norman of South Carolina.
“Ultimately I believe, and I predict and predict, that if the matter goes to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule that this particular law is constitutional,” Biggs said.
Trump has appointed a third of the Supreme Court, solidifying a 6-3 conservative majority.
In 1898, the Supreme Court upheld the birthright citizenship provision of the 14th Amendment—meaning that citizenship is guaranteed to every child born in the country, except for the children of foreign diplomats.
Trumps Executive Order from Monday The law ends birthright rights and directs the federal government not to recognize or issue citizenship documents to children born after February 19 whose parents are in the country without proper authorization, or to children whose parents are in the country on transient visas residing in the United States and one other non-citizen parent.
There is approximately 5.5 million U.S.-born children whose parents are at least one undocumented immigrant and 1.8 million U.S.-born children with two undocumented parents.
Babin’s legislation would make a change to federal immigration law, the Immigration Nationality Act. It states that citizenship would be granted to children born in the United States whose parents are at least one U.S. citizen, a green card holder or a legal immigrant serving in the military.
It does not address the possibility that some parents may have other legal immigration status, such as a work or student visa. Under the bill, it would only affect children born after the bill was signed — although there are likely to be immediate legal challenges.
“This is about ensuring that citizenship, a cornerstone of our national identity, is protected, respected and aligned with the principles on which this country was built,” Babin said.
Last updated on January 23, 2025, 12:44 p.m
