A huge debate has been sparked online over Donald Trump’s children regarding their US citizenship, as the president attempts to revoke birthright citizenship across the United States.
For those not up to speed, the Republican leader, 79, issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship in January, and now it’s being reported it could potentially come into effect in some places before the end of July, according to Fox News.
To explain in simple terms, birthright citizenship allows nearly everyone born on US soil to immediately become a US citizen, regardless of their parents citizenship status.
The first sentence of the 14th Amendment to the US constitution establishes the principle of birthright citizenship.
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It explains: "All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
So, this means that even if neither of your parents are US citizens, if your mother gives birth to you in the US, you become a citizen.
If birthright citizenship ends, this means children born in the US won’t be granted it as easily anymore, as they will need to have at least one parent who is a legal permanent resident (a green card holder) or a US citizen.
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The executive order largely targets children who are born to unauthorised immigrants, as well as people legally in the US on temporary visas.
The move is part of the Trump administration’s drive to remove illegal immigrants from the country.
Trump signed the order almost immediately as he began his second term in the White House, however, it’s important to note that, as of right now (4 July) nothing has changed about birthright citizenship.
But, on June 27, the Supreme Court did rule to restrict lower courts from issuing nationwide injunctions blocking federal policies.
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This means that judges can’t just block a law or policy for the entire country - only for the people who actually sued - so, the birthright citizenship executive order isn’t fully stopped anymore.
However, such a ruling doesn’t mean that the rule is now official - just that it’s still being challenged in court.
But, with that said, it does make it easier for big policies like this to move forward in the states that are not challenging it.
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And as the executive order becomes closer to becoming a reality, people are sparking a whole new debate online, regarding none other than Trump’s children.
Social media users are pointing out that Trump’s first wife Ivana was not a US citizen when their children, Don Jr, Ivanka, and Eric, were born.
They added that the president’s current wife Melania was also not a US citizen when Barron was born.
However, as other users have pointed out, Trump was, of course, a citizen at the time and Melania and Ivana had green cards, meaning that the children would still be granted citizenship, even if the order was in place.
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One user quipped: “As Trump moves to end birthright citizenship - it might be a good time to point out the fact that Ivana was not a US citizen when Don Jr, Ivanka & Eric were born and Melania was not a US citizen when Barron was born.”
A second questioned: “These are the FACTS - Trump’s 1st wife, Ivana Trump, born in Czechoslovakia, became a U.S. citizen in 1988 after the birth of the 3 older children; Melania Trump, born in Slovenia, obtained her U.S. citizenship in 2006, after Barron’s birth. Donald, are your children citizens?”
And a third brutally added: “When Barron Trump was born, Melania was not a US citizen. Trump wants to end birthright citizenship - let's start with his own family.”
However, someone else pointed out: “Donald Trump is a US Citizen. His children are US Citizens as well due to this fact regardless of the nationality of their mothers.”
Another agreed: “But they were here legally with a father who is a citizen... but I guess you accidentally left that part out.”
Topics: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Politics, US News
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Madison Burgess