After President Trump's proposal early Tuesday to end birthright citizenship via an executive order, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham quickly moved to assist, announcing his intention to introduce similar legislation in Congress himself.
Graham praised Trump's proposal to end this "magnet" for illegal immigration by proclaiming:
“Finally, a president willing to take on this absurd policy of birthright citizenship... I’ve always supported comprehensive immigration reform – and at the same time – the elimination of birthright citizenship.”
“The United States is one of two developed countries in the world who grant citizenship based on location of birth," Graham continued. "This policy is a magnet for illegal immigration, out of the mainstream of the developed world, and needs to come to an end."
Halting birthright citizenship would end a longstanding policy that U.S.-born children of illegal aliens are automatically conferred citizenship, regardless of the legal status of their parents. Earlier Tuesday, Trump suggested he could end the disputed practice via an executive order - a move that would undoubtedly lead to a slew of legal challenges and, potentially, a final ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on whether or not 14th Amendment citizenship protections extend to the children of illegally present immigrants.