House Republicans are divided over President Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship. The GOP is gaining ground among Hispanics, but there are internal differences in immigration.

Conservatives worry that people who are living in the United States without permission have abused their birthright citizenship. They support Trump’s Executive Orders, which are the rallying cry of the MAGA base.

Some moderates do not want to undermine a constitutional right that has been in place for more than 150 years. They claim that Trump lacks the authority to take away this right unilaterally.

The third group is on the fence. They recognize the rich history of birthright citizenship but wonder if Congress should update the law to reflect modern times.

This fight is just months after the presidential election, in which Trump and Republicans made significant gains with Hispanics. The Republicans hope to maintain this momentum over the next few years.

Republicans supporting Trump’s efforts say that the president is simply fulfilling what he promised during the campaign, including Hispanic voters who want tougher immigration laws.

“He got a mandate from the American people to stop the bleeding at the southern border,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said.

“I give a lot of credit — whether people like specifics or not, the thing about President Trump [is] he’s been very clear about what he’s been wanting to do. And this is one of those issues,” he added, referring specifically to the end of birthright citizenship. “There’s a reason why he got very strong support from Hispanics around the country, and it’s because he does what he says he’s going to do.”

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who represents the southernmost part of Florida, claims that the 14th Amendment was adopted in 1868 and provides citizenship rights for descendants of slaves.

Gimenez said, “I believe that if you were raised in the United States, you are a US citizen.” “So, the best way I see to solve your problem is to control the border. “

Gimenez referenced the Supreme Court’s 1898 decision United States v. Wong Kim Ark which clarified who was not eligible for birthright citizens. This list includes the children of diplomats but excludes people living illegally in the country.

“That pretty much established it.”

Gimenez believes that the courts, who have already blocked Trump’s order, will ultimately rule. He stated that he was concerned about some of his constituents while the order was being reviewed.

“I’m hearing people are worried about it,” he said.

House Republicans are caught between two opposing camps and remain undecided on Trump’s Day 1 Order. They claim to be weighing constitutionality concerns against criticisms about the 14th Amendment applied today.

On “Meet the Press Now”, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), a representative of a district in which former Vice President Kamala Harris was elected by a small margin in 2024 resisted the question.

Lawler said that the 14th Amendment deals with the issue of birthright citizenship. But I believe that people who are here illegally and have children to get citizenship abuse the system.

Lawler predicted the Supreme Court will hear Trump’s Executive Order in “a relatively short time frame”.

The executive order signed by Trump on Monday, just hours after his second term began, aims to deny citizenship to children of noncitizens. This includes people who are illegally in the country.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the order on Thursday. Judge John Coughenour, appointed by Reagan in Seattle, said that Trump’s orders were blatantly illegal.

He said: “I’ve been a court judge for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question was so clear as in this one. “

According to many legal experts, if courts overturn Trump’s executive orders the president will press GOP leaders to pass a bill that adopts the order.

Some GOP lawmakers are already laying the foundations for this situation.

Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) introduced a bill this week that claims to “restore the 14th Amendment to its original purpose” by granting automatic citizenship only to individuals with at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. or an immigrant who is actively serving in the Armed Services.

Babin said at a press conference, “The historic Executive Order by [Trump] to end birthright citizenship marks a major step forward. With the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025, these reforms can be codified and solidified as permanent laws. “

House GOP Leadership has not yet indicated whether it will bring Babin’s Bill to the floor of the House. However, lawmakers aren’t ignoring this possibility.

“I am certain that it would be an ugly vote if this issue were to go to vote,” said one moderate Republican who asked to remain anonymous to discuss such a sensitive topic.

The GOP member, who said that he was open-minded to Trump’s executive order and argued birthright citizenship is “an incentive” for pregnant women to enter the U.S., without permission, pointed out the sensitive nature of the debate.

“There are people that benefit from this, and it would change that path for them, and some people probably have made decisions to spend a lot of their own money. Some of these coyotes will [have] spent $10,000 to $15,000 to get them across the border. They risk a lot to get here. And this is part of one of the reasons why they do that, it gives their kids an opportunity to a better life,” the member said.

The current law encourages such behavior.

Even Republicans who support Trump’s initiatives say that it will take more than a simple law to implement changes suggested by the White House. A constitutional change would be required, but would not meet the two-thirds requirement of Congress.

Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said: “I think the 14th Amendment was written differently from how it is used now. But in the past, the Supreme Court ruled if you were born here you are a citizen. “

I think it’ll be hard to change that unless you have an amendment process.