Trump is widely known for his actions taken against illegal immigrants in the United States. He has recently discussed changing the 14th Amendment as further action.“I can do it just with an executive order,” said Donald Trump during an interview with Axios on his potential alteration of the constitution.

The 14th amendment proclaims the right to American citizenship through birth on the country’s soil. This alteration to the Amendment would make the children of many illegal immigrants non-U.S. citizens, ending birthright citizenship. Trump would like to deport these children along with their parents.

It is more commonly believed that an Amendment would be necessary to strip the right of  citizenship away from the children. Even Trump claims that is what he has always believed, but he is now saying that is not true. He claims not only can an act of Congress make the alteration he wants to, but he can do it with an executive order. When juniors Ethan Renz and Olivia Costanza were asked their thoughts on the subject they said “Trump would get shot down if he used an executive order. Even if it was put through Congress he would get denied.” Costanza said, “I don’t think he even could, but if he could I wouldn’t want him to because I don’t like when the Amendment’s supporting my rights are changed.”

While Trump’s words have gotten positive support and attention from some Republicans, Nancy Pelosi, the House Minority Leader, believes Trump is trying to draw focus away from the healthcare issues that many Democrats have pushed to be a focus throughout the midterms.

Many people thought this announcement was a way to help Trump in the midterms, but those involved within the elections were never informed of a plan. Many White House administrators also found their apparent plan for constitutional provisions to be new information. The Counsel Office is currently changing leadership and they have not been working on any new immigration policies, including the alteration Trump says him and his team have been working on. Trump also falsely claimed that America is the only country to have the policy of citizenship upon birth in the country. Other countries such as Mexico, Canada, Barbados, Fiji, Peru, and many more still function with birthright citizenship.

Trump’s interview mainly consisted of his disapproval of the 14th Amendment. He claims, “it’s ridiculous” and decides this policy must end. He does not believe that children of illegal immigrant parents should have claim to American rights and freedom that they have now, which sophomore Victoria Medina partially agrees with. “I think they should have basic human rights that every person alive deserves, but maybe not every right because their parents come to the country and don’t pay taxes like the other American parents. These children are anchor babies and were not brought into America by contributing American citizens.” Freshman Megan Minnick said, “These children should not necessarily have the rights of American citizens, and they should not be separated from their parents.” Stripping away these rights would make it easier to deport their parents without having to take the children away from them, whom there have been many arguments over the cruelty of.

These American citizen children are being separated from their parents and held in U.S. custody, causing much controversy over the animosity of separating a child and parent. Although Trump’s executive order may not actually work, it is possible that he will try to amend the Constitution, despite the lengthy process it takes. The results of this depends on the support he will have from Congress and possibly the Supreme Court if his attempts are taken there. The future of many first generation American children may be at stake.