President Donald Trump recently reiterated his stance on birthright citizenship, claiming that it was originally intended to benefit the children of slaves, not to allow unrestricted immigration.
He made these remarks during a press briefing at the Oval Office, emphasizing that the policy was not meant for “the whole world to come in and pile into the United States.”
“Birthright citizenship, when it was passed and made law, was meant for the children of slaves. This was not meant for the entire world to come in and pile into the United States of America,” Trump said. He suggested that the current system was being exploited by people who may not be qualified to enter the U.S.
Trump argued that it was a “very good and noble” policy for the children of slaves, a stance he supports fully, but he contended that it should not apply to the children of foreign nationals.
"I’m in favor of that 100 percent," Trump said. “But it wasn’t meant for the entire world to occupy the United States.”
Despite a federal court ruling against his executive order on the matter in Seattle, Trump expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would eventually rule in his favor. "I think we’re going to win that case. I look forward to winning it," he added. He also highlighted that the U.S. is one of the few countries in the world to offer such a policy.
Republican Senators Propose Restricting Birthright Citizenship
This week, a group of Republican senators introduced a bill aimed at restricting birthright citizenship. Sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Katie Britt, the legislation seeks to limit citizenship to the children of legal immigrants and lawful U.S. residents, excluding children born to illegal immigrants and those on temporary visas.
The senators argue that birthright citizenship is a key driver of illegal immigration and a national security concern. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, it is estimated that between 225,000 to 250,000 births were to illegal immigrants in 2023, representing approximately 7% of all births in the U.S.
The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025 outlines that children born in the U.S. would only be granted automatic citizenship if at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces. This bill would not apply to children born prior to its enactment.
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