Last Updated: September 28, 2023, 15:45 IST
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walks behind former biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy during a break in the second Republican candidates’ debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign in California, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial stance on ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants in the US
Indian-American presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has proposed to end the birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants in the US. He expressed his radical policy during the second Republican primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on Wednesday.
Answering a question about the “legal premise” to expel undocumented immigrants and their American-born children from the country, Ramaswamy backed a 2015 proposal of ending birthright citizenship from then-candidate Donald Trump. The 38-year-old political outsider, who is the son of Indian immigrants, said children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States should not be granted citizenship, because their parents “broke the law” to be in the country.
The Ohio businessman also backed his opponents onstage and acknowledged other measures such as militarisation of the southern border, defunding “sanctuary cities,” and an end to foreign aid to Mexico and Central America. He said he would go a “step further” by ending “birthright citizenship for the kids of illegal immigrants in this country.”
BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy calls for the end of birthright citizenship for kids who were born in the US with parents who illegally entered the country.Wow
“I favor ending birthright citizenship for the kids of illegal immigrants in this country.”
“Now, the left will howl… pic.twitter.com/ztFJT2kuws
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 28, 2023
Earlier, Ramaswamy had criticised the H-1B visa programme saying the current “lottery” system needs to be “gutted” and replaced with a “meritocratic” skill-based immigration scheme to match the needs of the US. The H-1B visa, much sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
Ramaswamy has garnered quite an attention after his maiden Republican presidential primary debate held last month. His radical policy proposals have helped him stand out in the crowded primary field, according to US polls. At the debate on Wednesday, the youngest GOP Presidential candidate faced criticism from several fellow Republican candidates.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott accused the Indian American tech billionaire of being “in business with the Chinese Communist Party.” “Nonsense,” Ramaswamy interjected angrily. “When we have the conversation about the things that are happening on this stage, we think about the fact that Vivek just said that we were all good people, and I appreciate that because last debate he said we were all bought and paid for,’” Scott said.
‘You know, I can’t imagine how you could say that knowing that you were just in business with the Chinese Communist Party and the same people that funded Hunter Biden millions of dollars was a partner of yours as well,” he said.
Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley went after the political newcomer for inexperience, terming Ramaswamy’s policy proposals as “dangerous ideas.” “Every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” Haley said. “We can’t trust you.” Ramaswamy responded by saying “I think we would be better served as a Republican Party if we’re not sitting here hurling personal insults.”
(With agency inputs)
