Staff ReportsPresident Trump is once again at the forefront of a crucial immigration issue, rallying support from a hefty group of nearly two dozen attorneys general who are not exactly shy about expressing their disdain for birthright citizenship. These legal eagles hail from states convinced that the current system is more like a welcome mat for lawbreakers than a harbor for those seeking the American Dream.
TRUMP: "Birthright citizenship…was meant for the children of slaves. This was not meant for the whole world to come in & pile into the United States." pic.twitter.com/nyvjqgOfB9
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2025
The amicus brief filed in federal court makes it clear that the landscape of American immigration has turned into a chaotic free-for-all. According to the document, the influx of illegal aliens, including those with criminal backgrounds, international gang members, and even potential terror threats, has transformed every state into a border state. Lawsuit music to a conservative’s ears, this brief argues that allowing anyone born on American soil to claim citizenship raises the stakes on illegal immigration, placing both citizens and government budgets at risk. After all, if your primary claim to fame is being born in the U.S., then it’s only reasonable that taxpayers should foot the bill for that privilege.
A total of 18 attorneys general from states like Alabama, Florida, and South Dakota have put their names on this legal declaration. Clearly, they are not on board with the idea of letting waves of foreigners drop their offspring here as if it were an all-you-can-eat buffet for citizenship. Their stance is simple: birthright citizenship is not an infinite buffet; it can and should be regulated before it spirals out of control.
Trump himself has joined the fray, asserting that birthright citizenship was intended for the descendants of slaves—not for anyone who feels like taking a short trip to America to welcome a new citizen. There’s a valid argument that it’s time for the rules to be rewritten to reflect these realities. The taxpayers, after all, deserve better than footing the bill for what many see as a loophole being exploited.
Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are backing up Trump’s charge with legislation meant to clarify who gets to be called an American citizen the moment they take their first breath. By amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, they aim to close the doors on those seeking to use birthright citizenship as an end-around for immigration laws that many Americans believe should be taken seriously. As history is often rewritten to favor contemporary narratives, it’s worth noting that almost no one thought the 14th Amendment was a free pass for the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants, proving that sometimes, tradition is worth holding on to.
