Posted on September 11, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy Says He’ll Deport Children of Undocumented Immigrants Born in the U.S.

Alex Tabet and Katherine Koretski, NBC, September 8, 2023

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says that as president, he would deport American-born children of undocumented immigrants.

“The family unit will be deported,” said Ramaswamy when asked by NBC News if the deportations would include American-born children, after a packed town hall here Friday.

These children, however, are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The 14th Amendment 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 these children would be deported along with their families, Ramaswamy doubled down.

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Ramaswamy, like some other conservatives, believes the 14th Amendment does not confer birthright citizenship.

“Under the legal theory that the child of an illegal immigrant is not someone who enjoys birthright citizenship, then it would be perfectly legally permissible to remove the entire family unit,” he said.

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