Trump to end birthright citizenship of babies of non-citizens, immigrants

For the immigrants' caravan, Trump said, he is dispatching additional troops and added that he will set up tent cities for asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, revoking birthright citizenship would spark a court fight over whether the President has the unilateral ability to change an amendment to the Constitution.

The 14th Amendment guarantees that right (birthright citizenship) for all children born in the US.

Asked about the legality of such an executive order, Trump said, "They are saying I can do it just with an executive order."

He further said, "We're the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States".

An excerpt of the interview was posted on Axios' website yesterday.

Omar Jadwat, Director, Immigrants' Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union in New York, said yesterday the Constitution is very clear.

"If you are born in the US, you're a citizen," he said, adding it was "outrageous" that Trump can think he can override constitutional guarantees by issuing an executive order.

He further said that Trump has an obligation to uphold the Constitution.

In the final days before the November 6 midterms, Trump has emphasized immigration, as he seeks to counter Democratic enthusiasm.

He believes his campaign pledges, including the building of a US-Mexico border wall, are still rallying cries for his base and that this latest focus will further erode the enthusiasm gap.

Trump voiced his theory that birthright citizenship could be stripped during his campaign.

Coming back to the birthright citizenship, the first line of the 14th Amendment states: "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."

The 14th Amendment on birthright citizenship was passed by Congress in 1866 during the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War.