CurrentReport Blog United States President Donald Trump has asserted that the 14th Amendment’s right to American citizenship was never meant to apply to modern-day illegal immigrants.
According to Trump, the amendment was designed solely to grant citizenship to former slaves, not individuals who enter the country illegally.
Trump made this statement in a post on Truth Social, where he criticized birthright citizenship and argued that America’s founding fathers would disapprove of its current interpretation.
Trump: 14th Amendment Misinterpreted
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to all individuals born on American soil, a principle known as birthright citizenship. However, Trump insists that this was never meant to apply to undocumented immigrants and their children.
“The 14th Amendment Right to American Citizenship never had anything to do with modern-day ‘gate-crashers,’ illegal immigrants who break the law by being in our country. It had everything to do with granting citizenship to former slaves. Our Founding Fathers are ‘spinning in their graves’ at the idea that our country can be taken away from us,” Trump wrote.
He further called on lawyers and judges to be tough on immigration laws, emphasizing that no other country offers such a citizenship policy.
Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has pushed for stricter immigration laws. In January 2025, just days after his inauguration, he signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.
This move sparked widespread legal challenges, as many experts argue that birthright citizenship is constitutionally protected under the 14th Amendment.
Federal Judges Block Trump’s Order
Trump’s executive order has faced multiple legal setbacks in recent days.
On Thursday, Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston became the latest federal judge to block the policy, ruling that it violates the Constitution’s birthright citizenship clause.
This ruling follows similar judicial blocks from U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante in New Hampshire, as well as rulings in Seattle and Maryland.
These legal challenges signal a major roadblock for Trump’s immigration crackdown, as courts continue to reject his administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
Debate Over Birthright Citizenship Intensifies
Trump’s stance on birthright citizenship has sparked a heated national debate.
- Supporters of Trump’s policy argue that birthright citizenship encourages illegal immigration and should be reformed.
- Opponents, including legal experts, insist that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to all individuals born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
The Supreme Court could eventually weigh in on the issue, setting a historic precedent for U.S. immigration policy.
What’s Next for Trump’s Immigration Agenda?
Despite the legal challenges, Trump remains determined to tighten U.S. immigration laws.
With several lawsuits pending, it is expected that the Supreme Court may ultimately decide the fate of birthright citizenship in the coming months.
As the 2025 political landscape unfolds, Trump’s hardline immigration stance will likely remain a key issue in national discussions.
