US House Speaker Calls Birthright Citizenship a National Security Threat

Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, characterized birthright citizenship as a "threat to the rule of law and American national security."

His remarks followed the Supreme Court's decision not to review an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which sought to limit birthright citizenship to children born to at least one parent who is either a citizen or has legal status. The majority of the Court held that such a limitation would require a constitutional amendment.

Johnson, speaking in an interview on "Fox News," cited the dissenting opinion of Justice Clarence Thomas, stating, "Thomas clarified that the original purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment was to enhance and honor the value of citizenship, but today it has been diminished due to birthright citizenship tourism, and we urgently need to address it."

He added that if legislation could amend the issue, Congress would act immediately. However, he noted that the process might take longer if a new constitutional amendment were necessary, describing the amendment process as "arduous and rarely accomplished."

Johnson's statements came after Trump urged Congress to take action, asserting that "there is no need for a long and exhausting constitutional amendment." Trump posted on Truth Social, "Congress should start working today to end birthright citizenship, and they will have my full support."

Trump found support in the opinion of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was not part of the majority ruling that guarantees citizenship to every child born in the United States. Kavanaugh left open the possibility for Congress to rewrite the Nationality Act of 1940, which interprets the constitutional right to citizenship.

Conversely, some Republican officials with legal backgrounds distanced themselves from Trump's position, emphasizing the necessity of a constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship.

Senator Eric Schmitt stated that Congress can pursue the "deliberately difficult" process of proposing a constitutional amendment, which requires approval by two-thirds of both chambers and three-quarters of the states. He added, "Ordinary laws cannot fix the damage, and I will soon announce a constitutional amendment to restore the sacred bond between citizens and their government."