Former President Donald Trump has declared his intention to prevent Nigerians and other foreign nationals from securing citizenship for their children born in the United States if he wins the 2024 election. Trump stated that on his first day back at the White House in January 2025, he would issue an order to deny citizenship to children whose parents are not American citizens or legal permanent residents.
Currently, the longstanding interpretation of the Constitution grants automatic American citizenship to children born on U.S. soil, even if their parents are not citizens or are legally present in the country. This policy has faced criticism in the past, with opponents arguing that it encourages parents to enter the U.S. illegally.
During his tenure in the White House, Trump frequently discussed challenging this interpretation but never took concrete action. In his recent announcement on Tuesday, Trump presented this move as part of a broader crackdown on unauthorized immigrants and asylum-seekers, which he has promised to implement if he returns to the White House. Additionally, he pledged to initiate the largest immigration roundup and deportation operation in U.S. history.
Trump’s objective with this policy is to eliminate a significant incentive for ongoing illegal immigration, dissuade more migrants from coming to the U.S., and encourage those who have entered unlawfully under President Joe Biden’s administration to return to their home countries. In a video message, Trump stated, “They must go back,” emphasizing his determination to enforce stricter immigration measures if elected in 2024.
