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Dr. Rashad Richey

National TV Political Analyst, Talk Radio Host, Univ. Prof.

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Opinion

Trump’s proposed policies violate 14th Amendment

Nov 17, 2023

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Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering expanding his first-term immigration policies should he win a second term. Initially reported by The New York Times, the proposed changes would involve gathering undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and holding them in large camps while awaiting deportation. Some critics have referred to these detention centers as “concentration camps.”

Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey agrees with this characterization and is equally horrified by Trump’s corresponding plan to eliminate birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

But Trump doesn’t care. According to The New York Times, the way the administration plans to do this is to work around the rules, work around the Constitution, and do it in a way that allows for the Supreme Court to rule later. But by the time the Supreme Court rules, damage would have already been done. What if they just ignored the Supreme Court? What’s to stop them from saying, “We will ignore the Supreme Court ruling if the Supreme Court overturns our interpretation of the U.S. Constitution?

And what about the fact that you literally have a former president running for president again, frontrunner in the Republican Party, saying already what he will do in order to violate law and violate the Constitution? Isn’t that interesting? Now, if you elect him, why would he not do it? And this time is more than rhetoric. He actually has exacting policy plans. Is Trump the one making these policies? No, he’s the one saying them. He’s spewing the rhetoric. He has people around him now who are disciplined, focused, and, yes, bigoted, who are working for him.

Is that the America you want — the Trump version — or is there a better way?

What kind of country do you actually want to live in? Well, let me give you a Donald Trump country. And if you still agree that this is the type of country, you want to live in a Trump version of America Vote for the man. But according to the New York time, Donald Trump plans to create concentration camps, deportation camps, they will call them massive deportation throughout the United States of America, many obviously wouldn’t get caught in the whirlwind of this mistakes will be made, children will be separated, it will be a nightmare. Also, eliminating birthright citizenship is another plan. Clearly, a constitutional violation, ending refugee status, even for those who are refugees, because they allied with America, during American occupation, let’s say in Afghanistan. We have Afghan refugee refugees here, because we told them to trust us to work with us. And we will protect them. Well, we decided, under Trump’s administration, to negotiate with the Taliban, to then provide some level of cover to some of American allies. And now the threat is they’re going to be deported back to be executed, is basically what will happen. Let me go to the birthright citizenship 14th amendment. It’s very clear. If you’re born in the United States of America, if you’re born on the soil, of this country, you are in fact, an American. This is a simple notion. The fact that any administration will try to come against it provides a gateway to come against black people in America. Let me explain how this works. You see the 14th Amendment, the 14th amendment was codified in the Constitution. Because back then there was an argument. And the argument was, well, black people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved in America. Well, their descendants could never become citizens of this nation. Because their lineage would always trace back to the continent of Africa, according to them. So they utilize this ridiculous talking point. To say, we would like to give Black people citizenship, but we just can’t do it, because they’re not from here. Well, ironically, neither were the colonizers who said this, but I digress. The 14th amendment, cleared the way settled the debate, provided the constitutional construct required to overcome that ridiculous notion and basically protected anyone who was born on American soil and deemed them American citizens. If you touch that constitutional dynamic, you are in fact being unconstitutional. You’re violating law, you’re violating a great sentiment of this nation. We call it a melting pot. But Trump doesn’t care. According to The New York Times, the way the administration plans to do this, is to work around the rules work around the Constitution, and do it in a way that allows for the Supreme Court to rule later. But by the time the Supreme Court rules, damage would have already been done. What did they just ignore the Supreme Court? What’s to stop them from saying, we will ignore the Supreme Court ruling if the Supreme Court overturns our interpretation of the US Constitution? And what about the fact that you literally have a former president running for president again, front runner in the Republican Party, saying already what he will do in order to violate law and violate constitution? Isn’t that interesting? Now, if you elect him, why would he not do it? And this time is more than rhetoric. He actually has exacting policy plans. Is Trump the one making these policies? No, he’s the one saying them. He’s spewing the rhetoric he has people around him now who are disciplined, focused and yes, bigoted, who are working for him. Is that the America you Want the Trump version or is there a better way

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