Truthout is a vital news source and a living history of political struggle. If you think our work is valuable, support us with a donation of any size.

Earlier this week, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) indicated that he and other Republican lawmakers were exploring ways to reinterpret the meaning of the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause, following the Supreme Court ruling last month against President Donald Trump’s attempt to do so through executive order.

In an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, Johnson cited the dissenting opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas, who argued that the 14th Amendment only applied to formerly enslaved Black Americans who were recently freed at the time of its adoption. (Notably, the majority opinion dismissed this view, citing statements from the architects of the amendment itself demonstrating that they intended birthright citizenship rights to extend to further populations.)

“Justice Thomas explained that the 14th Amendment, the original intent, was to enhance and really value citizenship. And it’s been devalued because of birthright tourism, which is what we have now,” Johnson said.

The current interpretation of the clause is a “threat to the rule of law and national security,” the House speaker asserted. “We do need to address it.”

Johnson also said that he and other GOP lawmakers are “looking at all angles” to limit birthright citizenship, stating:

Birthright Ruling Won’t Halt Trump’s War on Immigrants — Only Organizing Will

If there’s some legislative fix, we’ll advance that immediately. If it’s a constitutional amendment, as you know, it........

© Truthout