Kochi: United States President Donald Trump’s day-one decision to overhaul birthright citizenship has triggered debate with the civil rights outfits resolving to act against it, media reports said.
Civil rights activists argued that Trump’s decision to target birthright citizenship runs contrary to the protections guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
“Denying citizenship to babies born on US soil is illegal, profoundly cruel, and contrary to our values as a country.”
Trump’s order would deny citizenship to babies born on US soil to undocumented parents or those on temporary work visas, the reports said.
The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868. It states that “all persons born or naturalised in the US, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States”.
In 1898, the supreme court ruled that children born in the US to immigrant parents are, in fact, entitled to US citizenship, the rights said.
Trump also signed orders to declare a national emergency at the southern border, roll back federal diversity programmes and end the federal recognition of transgender identity.
A total of 42 presidential actions, includ ing 26 executive orders were taken by Trump on his first day in office.
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