New Delhi: Indian-American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has said that he would favour ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants in the US. He made the remarks during the second 2024 Republican presidential primary debate.


The second Republican debate of the 2024 election cycle was held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California on Wednesday. As many as seven candidates participated, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.


During the debate, Vivek notably called for the end of birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants in the US. “I favour ending birthright citizenship for the kids of illegal immigrants in this country,” he said.


“Now, the left will howl about the Constitution and the 14th Amendment. The difference between me and them is I've actually read the 14th Amendment,” Vivek added. “What it says is that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the laws and jurisdiction thereof are citizens. So nobody believes that the kid of a Mexican diplomat in this country enjoys birthright citizenship.”


When asked "what legal premise" he would use to expel undocumented immigrants and their American-born children from the country, Vivek Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, resurrected a 2015 proposal of ending birthright citizenship from then-candidate Donald Trump, PTI reported citing the Washington Post.


Ramaswamy, 38, also supported his opponents onstage and acknowledged other measures such as militarisation of the southern border, defunding “sanctuary cities,” and an end to foreign aid to Mexico and Central America.


A second-generation Indian-American, Ramaswamy, had earlier criticised the H-1B visa programme saying the current "lottery" system needs to be "gutted" and replaced with a "meritocratic" skill-based immigration scheme to match the needs of the US.


The H-1B visa, much sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.


As per the first poll after the debate, 28% of the 504 respondents said that Ramaswamy performed the best.