Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis unveiled his plans to address illegal immigration and the border crisis on Monday, marking the Florida governor's first major policy platform rollout since he jumped into the Republican presidential primary last month.
The Florida governor pledged to end birthright citizenship if elected to the Oval Office, similar to Republican rival Donald Trump‘s own proposal.
“We will take action to end the idea that the children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship if they are born in the United States,” the plan, which is titled “No Excuses,” reads.
“Dangling the prize of citizenship to the future offspring of illegal immigrants is a major driver of illegal migration. 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.”
Last month, Trump also vowed to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who entered the country illegally as part of his campaign platform.
However, constitutional experts have raised concerns over the plan, arguing the President does not have the authority to end birthright citizenship because it is enshrined in the Constitution. The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to those “born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
DeSantis argued in its plan that current practice is “inconsistent with the original understanding of 14th Amendment.”
DeSantis also vowed to end catch-end-release, reimpose the Remain in Mexico policy, increase border patrol pay and penalties for human trafficking, and sanction and restrict visas of citizens from countries who do not accept deportees on “day one.”
“I have listened to people in DC for years and years and years, going back decades. Republicans and Democrats always chirping about this, and yet never actually bringing the issue to a conclusion,” DeSantis told a crowd in Eagleton, Texas, announcing the plan on Monday.
“So what we're saying is no excuses on this,” he continued. “Get the job done. Make it happen. We want results. We don't want hollow rhetoric. We don't want empty promises. When we go in on day one, we're going to marshal every bit of authority that we have.”
Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller was quick to respond to DeSantis's immigration platform, accusing the governor of “copying” the former president.
The campaign also tweeted a compilation of clips of DeSantis praising Trump's record on immigration before the two were political rivals.
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DeSantis has the same plan as Trump? Great minds think alike. They don’t need to differentiate from one another on this particular issue.
I’ll vote for DeSantis in 2028 after Trump is done with his rightful second term.
Maybe Trump should just take the compliment – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The Republicans would be better off without carping at each other (and the Trumpster is the biggest offender).