Gaetz Introduces Bill to End Birthright Citizenship

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) recently promised to end birthright citizenship if elected President. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) seems to have beaten him to the punch by introducing the "End Birthright Citizenship Fraud Act of 2023."

The bill would prevent children born to foreign nationals from automatically attaining citizenship at birth, with the exception of lawful permanent residents, lawfully-admitted refugees, and those "performing active services in the U.S. Armed Forces," as Rep. Gaetz's press release described.

"Birthright citizenship has been grossly and blatantly misapplied for decades, recently becoming a loophole for illegal aliens to fraudulently abuse our immigration system. My legislation recognizes that American citizenship is a privilege –– not an automatic right to be co-opted by illegal aliens," said Rep. Gaetz, calling the bill "an important step in preserving the sanctity of American citizenship and ensures that citizenship is not treated as a loophole to be exploited but rather a privilege to be earned when legally migrating to our country."

Breitbart's coverage of Gaetz's bill noted the Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled on birthright citizenship. Additionally, many scholars dispute the interpretation of the 14th Amendment used to justify it.

The line in question, "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," was specifically interpreted in 1884 to mean the children of people who were legally citizens of other countries (without becoming American citizens) born on American soil were not entitled to American citizenship, because their parents were not under U.S. jurisdiction.

Near the end of June, Gaetz visited the U.S. Coast Guard operating in Florida, which repatriated more than 11,000 migrants coming to the United States by boat from August to May. Gaetz called this "the forgotten invasion," criticizing the lack of federal aid going toward halting migrants.