President Donald Trump unveiled severe new immigration policies just hours after taking office on Monday, including a national emergency declaration at the US-Mexico border and plans to end birthright citizenship.
In a press conference from the Oval Office, Trump revealed his intention to sign an executive order seeking to revoke the constitutional right to US nationality for anyone born on American soil, a move that would challenge the 14th Amendment. “That’s a big one,” Trump said, acknowledging that the decision would likely face legal opposition.
“I think we have good grounds, but you could be right,” he added when asked about potential pushback.
Trump also declared a national emergency at the southern border, reiterating his stance on immigration. “I’m fine with legal immigration. I like it.
“We need people, and I’m absolutely fine with it. We want to have it. But we have to have legal immigration,” he said, stressing his commitment to ending illegal immigration.
In his inaugural speech earlier, Trump promised to send troops to the US-Mexico border “to repel the disastrous invasion of our country” and vowed to halt all illegal entry.
“All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump stated.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly later confirmed that the administration would end the practice of granting asylum and reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their applications are processed.
At the US-Mexico border, many asylum seekers expressed their desperation. “Since we are here, please let us in,” said Yaime Perez, a 27-year-old Cuban migrant. “Please, after all the work we have put in to get here, let us enter your country, so that we can better ourselves in life and be somebody.”
Additionally, Kelly announced that Trump would push for the death penalty for non-citizens convicted of capital crimes, including murder.
“This is about national security. This is about public safety, and this is about the victims of some of the most violent, abusive criminals we’ve seen enter our country in our lifetime, and it ends today,” Kelly said.
Trump’s new policies are expected to face swift legal challenges, especially his attempt to revoke birthright citizenship.
Legal experts, including Aaron Reichlin-Melnick from the American Immigration Council, argue that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the United States. “We expect rapid court challenges,” Reichlin-Melnick said.
