Planned Parenthood Action Fund Statement on Trump’s Threat to End Birthright Citizenship
For Immediate Release: Oct. 30, 2018 (Updated: Oct. 30, 2018, 2:30 p.m.)
New York, NY — Just days before the midterm elections, President Trump told the news outlet Axios that he plans to sign an executive order that would remove the right to citizenship for children born on U.S. soil — something that is not within a president’s executive powers.
Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
This is yet another egregious and unconstitutional attempt to attack the communities Planned Parenthood health centers serve. Since day one, the Trump-Pence administration has engaged in a draconian campaign against immigrants and asylum seekers in this country, stoking fear and hatred, and contributing to many people’s already very real fear of deportation. Eliminating birthright citizenship would be an incredibly harmful policy for our entire country and is part of this administration’s radical, hateful agenda.
“Planned Parenthood believes that immigrants are a vital part of our community and they deserve dignity, respect, and the ability to live a healthy and complete life. This would be an abuse of power, and is a dangerous and transparent attempt to rally Trump’s political base just days before the election, and continue to pit people against each other. We cannot sit by silently while this administration threatens the lives of children of immigrants. It’s against our values as a nation, and we must make that known on November 6.
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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.