Unmasking America: Birthright Citizenship, Mass Deportation & the Cost of Exclusion. The 14th Amendment on Trial, Citizenship Under Siege. The Use of the Executive Order to Bypass the Constitution & Redefine the Meaning of U.S. Citizenship

We welcome you to this in-depth, investigative, fact-finding episode of Light ‘Em Up.

Thank you for joining us — as we march one step closer to achieving an enormous milestone, our 100th episode!

In this episode we are diving into complex and impactful topics. We’ll drill down on the concept of Birthright Citizenship — enshrined by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  The 14th Amendment does not equivocate. It states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.”  A president cannot change those facts with a stroke of his pen.

We will introduce to you in detail the concepts of jus soli and jus sanguinis.

Jus soli: The principle of law also known as birthright citizenship is the principle that a person’s citizenship is determined by the place of their birth, regardless of the parents’ nationality.

It contrasts with jus sanguinis, which determines citizenship based on parentage.

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order trying to end birthright citizenship. Specifically, the order states that after February 19, 2025, citizenship will only be granted to babies born in the United States if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Birthright citizenship stems from the principle of jus soli, that all children born in the United States are U.S. citizens. Birthright citizenship has remained a bedrock of our country and was enshrined in our constitution in 1868 when the states ratified the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to repudiate the infamous Dred Scott decision that denied Black people the protections of U.S. citizenship. In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents were entitled to U.S. citizenship in the case United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

Over 250 years ago our founding fathers, in the constitution, established 3 separate branches of government: the Executive, Judicial and Legislative. The Supreme Court (and the MAGA 6 on the court) have ceded a great deal of the other 2 branches’ power to the Executive Branch — doing tremendous harm to the country.

Chief Justice John Marshall famously said, “It has always been the duty and responsibility of the Federal Judiciary to say what the law is, both as to constitutional and statutory law” The Federal Judiciary is not a political role, at all.  Donald Trump has sought to “weaponize” the law and the judiciary to appease his whims.  Rich people can afford their whims.

We examine in depth how Trump’s large-scale deportations will have devastating impact on employment across our nation.  The nativist Trump administration is waging a war against the rule of law.

When all the migrant workers who pick and process the oranges in sunny Florida are arrested, detained and deported and when a glass of orange juice at your golf course county club will cost $35 — you’ll clearly understand the true costs and the real human effects of Trump’s campaign of xenophobic arrests, detentions and deportations will have on the economy and workforce of the U.S.

Barely 2 months into his administration he has issued over 100 executive orders. More shenanigans will ensue.  Trump has declared war on the Federal Judiciary and the rule of law.

America is in a crisis, and many aren’t even aware of it.  The Constitution is being tested like never before.  Will it break?  Will the Supreme Court continue to help make Donald Trump a dictator?  The courts gave power to Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Tune in for all the powerful facts and figures.

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