Again, Trump doubles down on plan to end birthright U.S. citizenship

President-Elect Donald Trump has said in an interview aired on Sunday he would “have to” deport all undocumented immigrants in the United States, as he doubled down on his hardline campaign pledges including ending birthright citizenship.

“You have to do it,” he said during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” moderator Kristen Welker, after being asked if he planned on deporting “everyone who is here illegally over the next four years” of his term.

He also used his first formal television interview after the November election to insist he would end birthright citizenship — enshrined in the US Constitution — “if we can, through executive action,” calling it “ridiculous.”

Also, Trump said he would “absolutely” consider leaving NATO if allies didn’t “pay their bills.”

“They have to pay their bills,” Trump told reporters,” saying he would “absolutely” consider taking the United States out of the alliance unless members are “treating us fairly.”

Asked by Welker, “Who are the others?” Trump responded, “Others are other people outside of criminals.”

There was a large increase in the number of unauthorised immigrants crossing into the U.S. during President Joe Biden’s time in office, though that number has fallen following executive actions in recent months.

Tightening restrictions around the U.S. border with Mexico was at the forefront of Trump’s candidacy — much as it was during his first run in 2016. Trump and allies routinely highlighted acts of violence committed by undocumented immigrants.

“We don’t have to separate families,” Trump said. “We’ll send the whole family very humanely, back to the country where they came.”

“So no more family separations?” Welker asked. “You’re not reviving the zero-tolerance policy?”

“It depends on the family,” Trump said, adding later: “If they come here illegally but their family is here legally, then the family has a choice. The person that came in illegally can go out, or they can all go out together.”