Senator Kaine speaks out against ending birthright citizenship

Democrat Tim Kaine took to the Senate floor to advocate for a right he says is constitutional.

The U.S. Virginia senator said birthright citizenship is a protected by the 14th Amendment of the constitution.

Birthright citizenship automatically grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. regardless of their parents' citizenship status.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to end that right on day one in office.

“Anyone who wants to reverse or curtail birthright citizenship is acting directly contrary to the plain meaning of the Constitution,” Kaine said. “They’re attempting to move to move the US back to a pre-Civil War mentality.”

Kaine also clarified the President elect’s statement that the U.S. is the only country with birthright citizenship, pointing to countries like Canada and Brazil.