The idea of ending birthright citizenship — including by executive order — has long been a dream of restrictionists. Ending birthright citizenship, in this narrative, will slow this march toward the cliff. The argument is absurd — undocumented immigrants are indeed subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and denying their children citizenship privileges would be unconstitutional. This would be challenged, and the Supreme Court would then “clarify” whether birthright citizenship applies to the children of the undocumented. By reviving ending birthright citizenship, Trump has again confirmed — as he did with his “s—hole countries” remark — that his animating impulse is to stall or roll back the country’s evolving racial and ethnic mix.

Source: Washington Post October 30, 2018 14:06 UTC