Can the government take away citizenship? What does that mean? Doesn't it make us all vulnerable?

[ProfessorPlum]

I keep hearing Trump talking about taking away birthright citizenship - but is that even possible? Is there a precedent? I would think that one of the rights of US citizenship is to not have it stolen from you - especially without some kind of due process.

But once your citizenship is revoked, you lose all of the other rights you are supposed to have as a citizen - rights against search and seizure, cruel punishment, self-incrimination, etc.

If we let Trump declare that a bunch of our fellow citizens are suddenly stripped of their citizenship, it makes us all vulnerable to having the government just declare us un-persons and do whatever they want with us.

[Silent Type]

1. trump can't change the Constitution, especially something explicitly guaranteed. Nowadays, he is saying "try" to

end birthright citizenship. Appears someone told him it requires a Constitutional Amendment.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Civil right are granted to non-citizens as well.

Tourists to the U.S., for example, enjoy them.

[getagrip_already]

3. Take away or block?

Different question....

If a child is never recognized as having been legally born - not issued a certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship, or it is seized or destroyed - then the 14th amendment doesnt engage. You have no proof you were born here.

Woops.

Likewise, if you are a minor citizen to noncitizen parents who get deported, you go with them since you are custodial.

So they can play a lot of games with the process and loss of records. If you dont have records, you have nothing.

[DBoon]

4. This has already been tried. It can be done.

Trump’s stripping of passports from some Texas Latinos, explained

The Trump administration is engaging in an immigration crackdown in South Texas — against people who have birth certificates showing they were born in the United States.

According to a Washington Post report published Wednesday by Kevin Sieff, immigration lawyers in the area are reporting that “hundreds, even thousands” of Latinos born near the US-Mexico border are being told that their birth certificates aren’t sufficient proof of US citizenship to get their passports approved or renewed.

They’re being subjected to ridiculous document requests like baptismal records, and insulting interview questions like “Do you remember when you were born?” Some are having their existing passports revoked and being thrown in deportation proceedings, or even being barred from reentering the United States when they attempted to come back from Mexico

.

https://www.vox.com/2018/8/30/17800410/trump-passport-birth-certificate-hispanic-denial-citizens

Imagine this at a larger scale. What if the government could revoke YOUR citizenship because of your parent's immigration status?

[ProfessorPlum]

5. exactly

[The Madcap]

6. The deported might be the lucky ones.

They won't end up in a trench in West Texas.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. With John Roberts?

Anything is possible. Lookit how he transformed Totally Traitor Trump into the Marvelous Martyr of Mar-de-Lardo.

So, yeah.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Easy answer?

I'm not being flippant here - but I descend from Black Americans who survived Jim Crow . . .

IF allowed to remain in the USA - I envision some sort of badge, id, tag . . . to ensure there are two Americas.

When you put it where the goats can get it - my dad was a decorated Military Officer/Green Beret in 1964. He was home on leave - and and his father was afraid for him to vote. My Granddaddy, Uncles, Etc.Etc. went and voted - but they always carried guns to the polls so never had problems in Talladega (land owners, S & L, multiple businesses, etc. etc.)

My Grandmas was 68 before she voted - because at that time the VRA had passed.

I *think* perhaps it looks like that. Instead of Race based - a Jim Crow Esquire for people who pay taxes, but like MANY Black Americans prior to 1964 - did not have the full rights of citizenship. That would include having your day in court and/or a jury of your peers.