Donald Trump is moving forward with a controversial and aggressive immigration agenda that could directly challenge constitutional protections, including the 14th Amendment. One of his latest proposals involves denying U.S. passports to children born in the United States to undocumented parents—a move that would directly contradict established legal precedents concerning birthright citizenship.
On the first day of his presidency, Trump has vowed to launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history, targeting millions of undocumented immigrants. This promise aligns with his broader strategy to reshape the country’s immigration system and increase border security. In a recent rally, Trump emphasized his intention to use military resources to carry out these mass deportations, citing the need to “get the criminals out.”
However, Trump’s immigration efforts extend beyond deportations. His incoming administration, particularly through Stephen Miller, his Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, plans to introduce radical changes to U.S. immigration law and policy. Miller, known for his role in creating the controversial “zero tolerance” family separation program, has reportedly discussed using military funds to build “vast holding facilities” to detain immigrants while their cases are processed.
These facilities, which critics have referred to as “camps,” would function as temporary holding areas before deportation. The government hopes that such detention might encourage undocumented immigrants to leave voluntarily rather than face prolonged legal battles. This “self-deportation” strategy, though not new, remains a cornerstone of Trump’s immigration approach.
One of the most controversial aspects of Trump’s plan involves an attempt to end birthright citizenship. For decades, the 14th Amendment has granted U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Trump’s team has expressed plans to stop issuing passports and other citizenship-affirming documents to infants born in the U.S. to undocumented parents, a direct challenge to the 14th Amendment’s protections.
Legal experts, including constitutional law professor Anthony Michael Kreis, have voiced strong opposition to this plan. Kreis argues that birthright citizenship is an essential part of American constitutional law, established in the landmark 1898 case Wong Kim Ark. According to Kreis, any attempt to reverse this principle would undermine the foundation of American rights and legal tradition.
Trump himself has publicly declared that “future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship,” signaling his intent to push for policy changes that could challenge or even bypass the constitutional protections guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.
The Trump administration’s proposed changes would have far-reaching consequences for immigrant families, including those with children born in the U.S. While Trump’s policies are gaining traction among certain conservative factions, they are also sparking significant legal and political battles over the future of immigration in America.
With millions of undocumented immigrants and their children living in the U.S., the stakes are high. The potential to end birthright citizenship would mark a seismic shift in U.S. immigration law, testing the resilience of constitutional protections and sparking heated debates about the future of American immigration policy.
As Trump prepares to take office, his administration’s stance on birthright citizenship and mass deportations could reshape the landscape of American immigration, leading to a constitutional showdown over the 14th Amendment and the rights of immigrants in the United States.
