Jermaine Thomas was born on a U.S. military base in Germany to an American military father and a Kenyan mother. Nonetheless, his U.S. citizenship appeared to be secure. This was until a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump led to Thomas’s deportation to Jamaica.
What happened, and how will nationwide injunctions affect military families and U.S. citizenship statuses across the globe?
Now, The Shade Room’s correspondent A.B. Burns-Tucker is sharing answers on ‘The Legal Plug.’
More Details On Donald Trump’s New Order
According to Burns-Tucker, Trump’s executive order is titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of Citizenship,” and it aims to alter access to birthright citizenship. Currently, if an individual is born in the U.S. to American parents, their citizen status is certain. Meanwhile, this new update reportedly leaves the citizenship of those with a non-American parent in jeopardy.
In addition, Trump’s order was reportedly launched alongside the argument that judges “shouldn’t be able to issue nationwide injunctions.” To note, the injunctions would “prevent the federal government from enforcing a law, regulation, or policy against anyone…”
“…The Trump administration was like, ‘We don’t care if it affects everybody, actually. If you have a problem with what we’re doing, you can either join the people who are suing us or sue us yourself,” Burns-Tucker explained to viewers.
Will Some Military Brats Be Left Stateless?
According to Burns-Tucker, Trump’s new order declares that military bases aren’t exactly U.S. soil and can’t grant U.S. citizenship. Furthermore, the concept argues that the military bases are sovereign territory of the host country. To note, to earn citizenship, an individual must be born on U.S. soil, per the 14th Amendment. If the requirement appears unsatisfied, the fulfillment of citizenship will be based on the parent’s citizenship history in the U.S.
Scroll above to watch as Burns-Tucker breaks down why Jermaine Thomas’ citizenship appears to be in jeopardy. In addition, the host shares why Thomas was deported to Jamaica and how he’s been left stateless by the U.S., Jamaica, and Germany.
