Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Stephen A Smith Says He Has Major Problem With Birthright Citizenship

[Screenshot/YouTube: Straight Shooter with Stephen A]

Sirius XM host Stephen A. Smith said Wednesday that he opposes unrestricted birthright citizenship.

Smith argued on “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” that the major crises facing the U.S. cannot be solved while people are purposely having children on U.S. soil to make them citizens. His argument responded to the Supreme Court’s oral arguments Wednesday over the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born to illegal aliens.

“Do you or do you not have a problem with birthright citizenship? I do … We’re 39 trillion in debt. Our economy is not strong. It’s threatening to unravel before our very eyes,” Smith said. “Unemployment isn’t dissipating. There’s been crime. There’s pestilence and poverty. There’s a lot going on in this country, and there’s a lot of evidence that gives people cause to pause and make them scared of the state of affairs that exist in our nation. How do you, how do you resolve that? If you’re just letting people walk in, especially people who intentionally crossed the border illegally, just to give birth to someone, to a kid on American soil, to ensure that they’re American citizens.” 

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Smith also argued the citizenship clause was originally ratified to grant freed slaves and their children citizenship, and not illegal aliens or temporary residents.

Trump’s solicitor general, John Sauer, argued that the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause does not apply to the children of illegal aliens or temporary residents. He argued that this right is intended to grant citizenship to those who intend to remain in the U.S. permanently.

Trump argued on Truth Social Tuesday that foreign countries are “selling citizenships” for their own financial benefits. He became the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court Wednesday.

Chief Justice John Roberts disputed that birthright citizenship was being exploited by foreigners and incentivizing an illegal immigration crisis. Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh also argued that American law should be interpreted with American precedent and history, rather than being compared to other countries’ citizenship laws.

The U.S. is one of only 30 countries with no restrictions on birthright citizenship.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Thursday that allowing unrestricted birthright citizenship is “insane” and could lead to serious consequences.