At least four Republican lawmakers are already pushing back on President Donald Trump’s dubious claim that he can roll back birthright citizenship, a right currently enshrined in the 14th Amendment, by executive order.
From a Michigan Republican congressman:
A president cannot amend Constitution or laws via executive order. Concept of natural-born citizen in #14thAmendment derives from natural-born subject in Britain. Phrase “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excludes mainly foreign diplomats, who are not subject to U.S. laws.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) October 30, 2018
From a Florida Republican congressman:
Birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution, so no @realDonaldTrump you can’t end it by executive order. What we really need is broad immigration reform that makes our country more secure and reaffirms our wonderful tradition as a nation of immigrants. https://t.co/7xlbfrt6rW
— Carlos Curbelo (@carloslcurbelo) October 30, 2018
From a Pennsylvania Republican congressman:
We all know challenges of suburban R’s. The bloc of competitive R held districts less impacted by POTUS thus far are those w high # of immigrants. So now POTUS, out of nowhere, brings birthright citizenship up. Besides being basic tenet of America, it’s political malpractice.
— Ryan Costello (@RyanCostello) October 30, 2018
From House speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI):
“You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order,” he said to radio station WVLK. “You know as a conservative, I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution and I think in this case the 14th Amendment is pretty clear, and that would involve a very, very lengthy constitutional process.”
Well Costello’s out the door, so he can get by with this. Amash often speaks out but always falls in line. Not as familiar with Curbelo, but guessing he is acting on the reality that Costello’s tweet suggests (that this is BAD for gopers in certain districts), but that in the end he will. like Amash, always fall in line to vote with Trump.
All hat and no cattle.
Trump’s dubious claim? This is not the AP Kate.
It doesn’t seem legal that trump can change the Constitution by Executive Order.
He can’t scrap it. It’s considered part of the 13th Amendment.
I love how these Republicans want broad immigration reform, where were they when this was tried in 2013? Republicans can’t even agree among themselves what they want and how to go about working within their own party.