Trump thinks of ending birthright citizenship for immigrants’ babies born in US

Washington, Oct 30: US President Donald Trump has given hint at signing an executive order to remove the right to citizenship for babies of non-American citizens and illegal immigrants born on the US soil. The president said this in an exclusive interview for "Axios on HBO", on Moday, October 29. The programme is a four-episode documentary news series that was first shown on HBO on Sunday, October 28.

According to a report in Axios, if Trump's words materialise, it would be the "most dramatic move yet" by the administration's hardline immigration campaign. It also said that this will also lead to a stand-off with the judiciary since the president's power to do what he plans through executive action is debatable.

Trump said in the interview that he had the idea of scrapping the birthright citizenship by his counsel and plans to work on it.

"It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't," he said, saying he could do it through executive order.

"We're the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States ... with all of those benefits. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. And it has to end," Trump was quoted as saying by Axios which however also said that more than 30 countries, mostly in the Western Hemisphere, give birthright citizenship.

Trump also expressed surprise during the interview that "Axios on HBO" knew about his secret plan. "I didn't think anybody knew that but me. I thought I was the only one," he was quoted as saying.