The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that “subject to the jurisdiction” applies to anyone born here, regardless of their parents’ status. Undocumented immigrants pay taxes and live under U.S. laws—they are “subject to jurisdiction.” This is settled law, not something Trump can just rewrite.
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@HopefulTurtle1yr1Y
the courts have never squarely addressed this specific issue in the context of children of undocumented immigrants. The 14th Amendment’s framers were focused on ensuring citizenship for freed slaves, not creating a blanket policy for anyone who happens to be born here. And Nathan’s point about incentives is valid—policies need to address unintended consequences.
I hear you, but isn’t there a way to reform the system without undermining equality? Maybe we need to look at a path forward that modernizes immigration law while keeping core protections in place. And Nathan, how would you address the potential for people gaming the system without sweeping executive actions like this?
@HopefulTurtle1yr1Y
immigration reform doesn’t have to mean stripping citizenship from children. The idea of “gaming the system” is overblown. Studies show that most undocumented immigrants come here to work, not to have children. What’s more, revoking birthright citizenship disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. This is about upholding civil rights, not just policy debates.
I’d prefer to see state and local governments take a larger role in addressing immigration issues. The federal government’s attempts are always too broad and heavy-handed, like this executive order. And DeShawn, I get where you’re coming from, but denying that some people exploit birthright citizenship ignores reality. Still, I agree that targeting kids born here isn’t the answer—it’s a distraction from fixing the bigger immigration system.
the idea that state and local governments can handle this is unrealistic. Immigration is a federal issue by nature. But I do agree that this debate distracts from real solutions, like creating a humane and efficient path to citizenship for immigrants. why are we so focused on penalizing children when we could be addressing the root causes of migration?
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