(WCIV) — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R, S.C.) said on Wednesday he would introduce legislation to alter birthright citizenship in the country, his latest attempt in what has become a long-standing goal for the lawmaker. Graham’s Birthright Citizenship Act of 2024 would not grant citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants. Additionally, It would not allow people on tourist visas to have their children in America and have citizenship conferred on their families. It would codify that birthright citizenship would only be granted if immigrants are documented in the United States, have a green card, are foreign nationals serving in the military or the child’s parents are United States citizens. “One of the most valuable commodities in the world is American citizenship,” Graham said during a press conference. “I can understand why almost everybody in the world would want to come to America and be a citizen. But we have to have an orderly process when it comes to granting American citizenship. We have to have a process that is not exploited.”   LIVE: Sen. Graham introduces the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2024 https://t.co/jBvKJnffIT — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 25, 2024 This isn’t a new battle for Graham. He, for years, has advocated for ending the principle of birthright citizenship– the standard that any person born on U.S. soil is considered an American citizen. In 2018, Graham said he would introduce legislation to alter birthright citizenship once the idea received a stamp of approval from former President Donald Trump’s administration. “Finally, a president willing to take on this absurd policy of birthright citizenship,” Graham said in 2018 following an interview in which Trump suggested he would be open to signing an executive order ending birthright citizenship for babies of non-citizens. “In addition, I plan to introduce legislation along the same lines as the proposed executive order.” While president in 2018, Trump said he planned to issue an executive order to limit birthright citizenship but never followed through. In May 2023, Trump again promised, if elected, to end the practice of birthright citizenship, according to a report from Reuters.   Finally, a president willing to take on this absurd policy of birthright citizenship. https://t.co/kCa0ko7P76 — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 30, 2018 In the summer of 2010, Graham considered introducing a constitutional amendment to change existing law to end birthright citizenship. “I may introduce a constitutional amendment that changes the rules if you have a child here,” Graham told Fox News. “Birthright citizenship I think is a mistake. … We should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child’s automatically not a citizen.” Birthright citizenship arises from the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868, three years after the conclusion of the American Civil War that ended the practice of enslaving Black people in Southern states and overturned a Supreme Court ruling that had held that slaves and free African Americans were not entitled to U.S. citizenship. The amendment granted citizenship to all individuals “born or naturalized in the United States,” including formerly enslaved people. It has been interpreted to apply regardless of the parent’s legal status. Graham asserts his legislation would stand up to the rigors of the judicial branch if passed. He claimed the Supreme Court would “most likely” want to revisit its 1898United States v. Wong Kim Arkruling that reaffirmed the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. “There has never been a ruling by the Supreme Court involving illegal immigrants,” Graham said. “There has never been a ruling by the Supreme Court regarding people here on tourist visas who have no real connection to the country. Long story short: For your child to be a U.S. citizen, there should be a real connection to the United States.” The South Carolina senior senator claims the law would be applied prospectively if passed. Click here to read the bill. Categories: News, Politics