President Trump’s reported Executive Order attempts to unilaterally remove birthright citizenship for individuals born on U.S. soil, which is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement ahead of President Trump's expected Executive Order removing birthright citizenship for individuals born on U.S. soil:
"Donald Trump's divisive and xenophobic comments are not new or surprising - they are the desperate act of a desperate man who is constantly seeking to divide and distract us. In this case, however, his statements reveal a President who believes he is not just above the law, but above the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment is clear that persons born in the United States are U.S. citizens. And yet, President Trump feels compelled to single-handedly change what has been universally understood about the law since the Amendment was adopted in 1868. All Americans should be disturbed by Trump's assertion that he can unilaterally change the Constitution at will to suit his purposes—whether it be the 14th Amendment, the 1st, or the 2nd. This represents an assault on our Democracy, and we cannot stand idly by and allow the President to disregard fundamental pillars of the Constitution."