Jim Banks Praises Lindsey Graham, Critiques Iran Policy
Senator Jim Banks from Indiana recently appeared on “Fox News Sunday” where he honored the late Senator Lindsey Graham, describing him as an incredibly effective legislator during the Trump administration. Banks emphasized how military strength is being utilized that sets itself apart from previous administrations’ softer strategies towards terrorism, which he feels often resulted in missed opportunities.
In a distinctive move, Banks plans to introduce a bill on Monday. This legislation aims to classify children of undocumented immigrants and so-called birth tourists as “invader” children under federal law, while also seeking to eliminate birthright citizenship. This follows a Supreme Court ruling last month that effectively rolled back President Trump’s previous executive actions on the matter.
While reflecting in a June 30 interview, Banks noted Trump’s encouragement for Senate Republicans to expedite legislative changes related to birthright citizenship, suggesting that they aren’t fighting hard enough for their agenda.
Banks informed FOX News Digital that he is ready to introduce this civil rights bill as soon as the Senate reconvenes. This initiative aligns with Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion last month, where he mentioned Trump’s order contradicts federal law on birthright citizenship but hinted that Congress could make amendments to the current law.
The proposed Citizenship Act seeks to ensure that children of “aggressors” would not qualify for birthright citizenship, formalizing a 2025 executive order that makes this claim. According to the bill’s summary, anyone entering the U.S. without authorization for birth tourism purposes would be affected, thereby amending existing immigration laws.
The term “invader,” as used by Banks, particularly refers to President Trump’s earlier declarations around illegal immigration being an “invasion.” Interestingly, the bill also suggests that the recent Supreme Court ruling could create opportunities for Congress to address this issue more thoroughly.
This legislation, while not overturning constitutional amendments directly, aims to codify the notion of an “invasion” as expressed by Trump and adapt federal statutes to deny citizenship to children of unauthorized immigrants, referencing precedents from the judicial system.
Banks is clear in his intent: “The Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship poses a significant challenge to American sovereignty, and we need to strategically defend our national interests.” His aim is to pass citizenship legislation that corrects what he sees as flaws in existing laws following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Additionally, a recent case involved Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who indicated that children born to foreign enemies under hostile occupation are not eligible for citizenship, but did not explicitly label undocumented immigrants as “invaders” as suggested in the previously mentioned ruling.
The bill claims the federal government has an obligation under Section 4 to “protect each state against invasion,” and highlights the Congressional responsibility to establish uniform rules for naturalization, a concept that President James Madison endorsed in the Constitution.
Moreover, the legislation aligns with perspectives around migration, hinting that for some Mexican nationals, moving northward is seen as a reconquest of territory lost during historical conflicts between the U.S. and Mexico.
Furthermore, the bill argues that birthright citizenship intertwines with bigger themes of national sovereignty and influences from foreign governments, particularly drawing attention to policies that may lead to birth tourism, which many believe undermines U.S. immigration norms.
