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Up to 250,000 children born to illegal migrants in 2023: preliminary report

The debate over birthright citizenship has once again taken center stage as President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning it. This move has sparked controversy and legal challenges, with a federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocking the order. The issue is likely to eventually be settled by the Supreme Court, raising questions about the fate of tens of thousands of children born to parents of illegal immigrants.

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, between 225,000 to 250,000 U.S. births in 2023 were to illegal immigrants, accounting for about 7% of total births that year. These figures are significant, surpassing the total number of births in all but two states individually. The group also noted that more children were born to illegal immigrant parents than to legal noncitizens. With the surge of illegal immigrants under the Biden administration, it is anticipated that the 2024 numbers will be even higher.

The 14th Amendment, which Trump’s executive order seeks to clarify, states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” The order aims to exclude children born to illegal immigrant parents or those on temporary nonimmigrant visas from birthright citizenship. Trump has criticized birthright citizenship as “ridiculous” and believes it should be stopped, aligning the U.S. with roughly 30 other countries where birthright citizenship is not automatic.

However, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a restraining order on Trump’s executive order, stating that it was “blatantly unconstitutional.” The legal battle is ongoing, with the Justice Department vowing to vigorously defend the order and its interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

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As the debate continues to unfold, the fate of birthright citizenship remains uncertain. The implications of Trump’s executive order and the legal challenges it faces have reignited discussions on immigration policy and constitutional rights. The final decision will have far-reaching consequences for the children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. and the future of American citizenship.

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