The US Senate is set to take up legislation aiming to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and birth tourists. The Citizenship Act, to be introduced by Sen. Jim Banks, defines children of "invaders" under federal law, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that dealt a setback to President Donald Trump's executive order on the issue.
According to sources, Trump had urged Senate Republicans to move faster on his legislative agenda, including ending birthright citizenship. Banks, R-Ind., has stated that he plans to introduce the bill as soon as the Senate opens for business Monday afternoon.
The Citizenship Act would declare that children of statutory "invaders" are not entitled to birthright citizenship under the law. The bill cites Trump's executive order declaring illegal immigration across the southern border an "invasion" and notes that the Barbara decision leaves this avenue open for Congress to crack down on.
The bill's key use of "invaders" is based on Trump's executive order, which declared illegal immigration across the southern border an "invasion." The bill also notes that the Barbara decision leaves the avenue open for Congress to crack down on birth tourism.
Banks' bill would use the landmark 1898 US v. Wong Kim Ark case as precedent to secure an end to birthright citizenship for progeny of illegal immigrants and birth tourists. The bill argues that birthright citizenship has become intertwined with broader questions of national sovereignty and foreign influence.
Banks stated, "The Supreme Court's birthright citizenship decision was an unprecedented assault on American sovereignty, and we must do whatever it takes to save our country." He added, "I'm leading the Citizenship Act to reverse the effects of this consequential ruling and ensure the millions of illegal aliens that invaded our country can't continue to exploit our immigration system."
