DeSantis vows to end birthright citizenship, echoing Trump

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday vowed to eliminate birthright citizenship if elected president, adopting a key position of his closest rival, former President Donald Trump.

Trump announced in late May that he would challenge the existing legal basis for granting citizenship to anyone born inside the country's borders, contending that the practice is based on a "historical myth and a willful misinterpretation of the law by the open borders advocates."

DeSantis, for his part, echoed that sentiment and contended the practice had encouraged illegal immigration.

"Dangling the prize of citizenship to the future offspring of illegal immigrants is a major driver of illegal migration," he said, according to The Hill. "It is also inconsistent with the original understanding of 14th Amendment, and we will force the courts and Congress to finally address this failed policy."

Section 1 of the Amendment reads as follows:



"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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Both candidates have insisted the amendment has been misinterpreted. DeSantis further bemoaned the longstanding talk of ending the practice and vowed to actually follow through, if elected.

"I have listened to people in D.C. for years and years and years, going back decades," he added. "Republicans and Democrats always chirping about this, and yet never actually bringing the issue to a conclusion. So what we’re saying is no excuses on this. Get the job done."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.