On his first day in office, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order targeting birthright citizenship, which grants automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. While many argue this move is solely focused on tackling illegal immigration, it has sparked widespread fear across the nation – and for good reason.
This isn’t a new debate. The issue of birthright citizenship has deep roots in American history, tracing back to the days of slavery. In the infamous Dred Scott v. Sandford decision of 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that Black people could not be U.S. citizens. Little did they know, this ruling would set the stage for the Civil War.
After the war, three vital amendments were added to the Constitution, addressing the wrongs of slavery and granting citizenship. These 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments – known as the “Reconstruction Amendments” – helped rebuild the nation. But what would happen if one, or all, of them were to be stripped away?
Trump’s Push to Change History
Here’s the twist: no U.S. president has ever directly attacked the 14th Amendment before, but Trump’s push on birthright citizenship isn’t the first time it’s been challenged. Ironically, 2025 marks 30 years since a similar bill was proposed in Congress.
In 1995, the Citizenship Reform Act was introduced with the goal of ending automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children of non-citizen parents. While Republican leaders, like former Rep. Elton Gallegly, supported it, the bill never passed. Why? It was ruled unconstitutional, as it violated the 14th Amendment, which says citizenship is based on birth, not race or parentage. That bill failed, but now, it seems Trump is trying to revive it.
What Happens If the 14th Amendment is Gone?
Let’s be clear: the U.S. Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship. Any changes to this would need to go through Congress, not just the president. But Trump’s executive order has still opened a huge can of worms, raising questions about what America might look like without this foundational guarantee.
If the 14th Amendment were stripped away, it could lead to more discrimination and violence against certain groups—especially Black, Hispanic, and other marginalized communities—who could be seen as “not American enough.”
What’s Next?
Trump is already facing backlash over his attempt to rewrite the Constitution. Over 22 states have filed legal action against his executive order, and more are expected to follow. Legal experts, like Walter Dellinger, who opposed the 1995 Citizenship Reform Act, argue that such a move would go against the nation’s constitutional traditions. “Our country should never again trust judges or politicians to deprive a class of people born on our soil of their right to citizenship,” he said.
As the clock ticks toward the 30-day deadline for Trump’s order to take effect, the future of the 14th Amendment remains uncertain. And with it, the fate of birthright citizenship in America. The question is: will the nation hold on to this essential right, or will history take a darker turn?
