His proposal conflicts with the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all born in the U.S.
During a town hall in Orange City, Iowa, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made controversial statements regarding the deportation of U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. When asked if his proposed immigration policy would include American-born children, Ramaswamy confirmed that he would deport them along with their families.
Ramaswamy’s proposal, however, raises significant constitutional concerns. According to the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically granted citizenship, regardless of the immigration status of their parents. The amendment specifically states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
When asked again if this would mean deporting American citizens who were born in the U.S., Ramaswamy reaffirmed his position, despite the fact that such actions would directly contradict the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship. His stance has sparked significant debate, with critics arguing that it would violate the rights of U.S. citizens and undermine the foundational principles of American citizenship.
Ramaswamy’s comments have ignited discussions around immigration policy and constitutional rights, with many pointing out that the U.S. government has never deported citizens born in the country, and doing so would set a precedent that could challenge long-established legal norms.