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Trump on birthright citizenship policy: 'We're looking at it very strongly'

Posted at 1:18 PM, Aug 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-21 16:26:09-04

President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that his administration was looking at birthright citizenship "very seriously."

"We're looking at it very, very seriously," Trump told reporters on the south lawn of the White House Wednesday.

Birthright citizenship describes the US policy that any baby born within the borders of the United States is granted citizenship, despite the citizenship status of the parents.

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution 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."

Late last year, Trump told Axios on HBO that he thought the policy was "ridiculous," saying the system "has to end."

At the time, Trump said he thought he could end the policy through an executive order. Such an order would undoubtedly be challenged in court.