Vivek Ramaswamy
In the midst of the 2024 U.S. presidential race, Indian-American candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has continued to draw attention with his strong policy stances. During the second Republican presidential debate, which took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, Ramaswamy shared the stage with prominent figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
One of the key points that Ramaswamy emphasized during the debate was his support for ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. This proposal echoes a similar idea put forth by then-candidate Donald Trump in 2015. The concept of birthright citizenship is rooted in the first section of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
While the traditional interpretation of this clause grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, some legal scholars argue that the phrase “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” allows for a degree of government discretion in limiting this right, similar to how other constitutional principles can be constrained.
Ramaswamy’s argument hinges on the idea that children of undocumented immigrants should not be granted citizenship because their parents have “broken the law” by entering the country without authorization.
Apart from his stance on birthright citizenship, Ramaswamy also aligned himself with other conservative measures during the debate, such as advocating for the militarization of the southern border, defunding “sanctuary cities,” and ending foreign aid to Mexico and Central America. He notably went a step further by proposing the termination of birthright citizenship for the offspring of illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Ramaswamy, 38, is a second-generation Indian-American who has also criticized the H-1B visa program, a highly sought-after visa among Indian IT professionals. He has called for reforming the program from a “lottery” system to a “meritocratic” skill-based immigration scheme to better align with the needs of the United States.
Interestingly, Ramaswamy’s position on H-1B visas bears some resemblance to Donald Trump’s stance during his 2016 campaign, despite the fact that Trump himself employed foreign workers under H-1B visas for his businesses. In a notable revelation, it was disclosed that Ramaswamy’s former company, Roivant Sciences, had secured approval for 29 H-1B visa applications from 2018 through 2023.
Ramaswamy’s presence in the Republican primary race has not gone unnoticed. Time Magazine even referred to him as “Trump’s heir apparent.” Following his debut in the Republican presidential primary debate on August 23, a poll indicated that 28 percent of 504 respondents believed Ramaswamy performed the best among the candidates.
In a crowded field of Republican primary contenders, Ramaswamy’s robust policy proposals and alignment with some of Trump’s positions have set him apart, capturing the attention of both the media and voters alike.
