Donald Trump’s end to birthright citizenship has a worm-faced silver lining for Texas

Donald Trump has reignited an old proposal to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, a plan he says he would enact on Day One of his second term. In a recent campaign video, Trump framed birthright citizenship as a “magnet” for illegal immigration. However, the proposal faces major legal hurdles, primarily because it directly challenges the 14th Amendment, which has guaranteed citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil since 1868, a provision that was pivotal in securing civil rights for freed slaves.

Reddit users, while recognizing the unlikelihood of the plan’s legal success, had a different angle on the situation. The internet’s focus quickly shifted to the fate of Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada to a Cuban father and an American mother. Some users jokingly wondered if Cruz, a frequent target of memes, might be swept up in Trump’s immigration crusade. After all, Cruz’s birth in Canada would seem to make him a potential candidate for deportation under Trump’s vision. One Canadian Redditor humorously chimed in with, “Canadian here. No backsies.”

Of course, Cruz’s case is a bit more complicated. Although born in Canada, his mother was an American citizen, granting him citizenship through his mother, not the birthright clause of the 14th Amendment. So, Canada can keep him for now — no deportation required.

But back to Trump’s proposal: It’s not likely to succeed. This isn’t the first time he’s floated the idea of ending birthright citizenship through an executive order. A similar attempt in 2018 was quickly dismissed, and legal experts believe this time will be no different. The 14th Amendment’s clear language makes it nearly impossible for such a move to gain legal traction, and any executive order to change it would face immediate court challenges.

So, while Trump’s idea may dominate headlines for a while, it’s unlikely to go beyond the campaign trail. But in the meantime, it has provided plenty of fodder for internet humor, including the image of Cruz, suitcases in hand, awkwardly knocking on Justin Trudeau’s door. If that were to happen, let’s hope Canada remembers: no backsies.