CAIR-LA Condemns Trump’s ‘Racist, Politically-Motivated and Unconstitutional’ Plan to End Birthright Citizenship
(LOS ANGELES, CA – 10/31/2018) – The Greater Los Angeles Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned President Trump’s pledge to strip away by executive order the right to citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizens and immigrants not authorized to be in the U.S. as “racist, politically-motivated and unconstitutional.”
In an interview with “Axios on HBO,” a new documentary news series debuting next Sunday, Trump said he plans to issue an executive order that would remove the right to citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen and undocumented immigrant parents.
SEE: Trump Targeting Birthright Citizenship with Executive Order
The 14th Amendment to the 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.”
“Pledging to remove the right to citizenship for children born to non-citizens and undocumented immigrant parents is President Trump’s last-ditch effort to intensify anti-immigrant sentiment and to play to his white nationalist base before next week’s midterm election,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw. “Trump’s threat to strip away ‘natural-born’ citizenship rights is racist, politically-motivated and unconstitutional.”
He added: “If Trump follows through and issues this unconstitutional executive order, it will immediately be challenged by the nation’s immigrant, human and civil rights advocacy organizations.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“This is just the latest example of President Trump using hatred and division as political tools to prey upon the fears of Americans. From the moment that Trump announced his candidacy for president until the present day, he has targeted immigrants, Muslims and refugees. His desire to circumvent the 14th Amendment shows his continual disregard for the U.S. Constitution, particularly when it comes to discriminating on the basis of religion, race or gender.”
Last week, CAIR condemned Donald Trump’s use of a racist and Islamophobic “dog whistle” “to promote his “divisive political agenda” prior to the midterm elections.
In a tweet, Trump claimed – without offering evidence – that “unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in” the migrant caravan making its way through Mexico toward the United States border.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Trump’s Racist, Islamophobic ‘Dog Whistle’ on Migrant Caravan
https://www.cair.com/cair_condemns_trump_s_racist_islamophobic_dog_whistle_on_migrant_caravan
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Eugene W. Fields, 714-776-1847 or efields@cair.com