Birthright Citizenship meets President Trump’s Threat of an Executive Order

The President revealed that he believe himself empowered to in some sense do away with birthright citizenship by way of a Executive Order. While he did not go very far toward revealing any details, of substance or timing, alarms rightly sounded. The history of citizenship battles that I chronicle in Birthright Citizens has been a useful context for making sense of the President’s threat. I spoke with NPR’s All Things Considered, Latino USA, and PRI’s The World. I wrote for The Atlantic and USA Today. And I appeared on Democracy Now! I’m clear that the 19th century case of African Americans is a precursor to what we’re witnessing today. As for what might unfold in the coming weeks and months, I don’t believe anyone can say for certain, unfortunately.