Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin said Sunday that he believes children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants should be deported along with their parents if the adults are removed from the country.
Mullin, who represents Oklahoma, made the statement during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. His comments came in response to questions about a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows states to move forward with implementing former President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship.
Although the Court’s ruling did not directly address the constitutionality of Trump’s order, it cleared a path for states to begin enforcing restrictions that would challenge the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment — which grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
NBC host Kristen Welker asked Mullin what should happen to U.S.-born children if their undocumented parents are deported, given that the children are currently citizens under federal law.
“Well, they should go where their parents are,” Mullin responded. “Why wouldn’t you send a child with their parents? I mean, why would you want to separate them?”
The Supreme Court’s decision has stirred confusion and concern among immigration advocates and immigrant communities, particularly over how birthright citizenship might be applied inconsistently across different states.
