Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently pointed out what he perceived as an unintentional endorsement of the pro-life movement by The New York Times. During his address at the 52nd annual March for Life in Washington D.C., DeSantis referenced a NYT headline concerning President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. The headline, “Undocumented women ask: Will my unborn child be a citizen?”, caught DeSantis's attention. He suggested it inadvertently acknowledged the unborn as children, a key tenet of the pro-life perspective.
DeSantis expressed his support for the President's efforts to challenge birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, noting that the NYT article seemed to inadvertently support the pro-life movement's position. The article, published in response to Trump's executive order, featured interviews with undocumented immigrants worried about their children's citizenship status. The order itself stated that children born to illegal immigrants or those with temporary visas would not automatically be considered citizens. This order, set to take effect February 19th, specified that no government agency should issue citizenship documents in these circumstances.
The New York Times article cited the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which traditionally grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States. However, the article also acknowledged differing interpretations of this clause, with some seeking to limit its scope regarding the children of undocumented immigrants. A New York Times spokesperson responded to DeSantis's comments by emphasizing their impartial coverage of both abortion and immigration issues.
Meanwhile, legal challenges to the President’s executive order have already begun. A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked its implementation, deeming it unconstitutional. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate surrounding birthright citizenship.
