THE MOST WIDELY CIRCUL ATED CARIBBEAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN FLORIDA
CNWEEKLYNE WS.COM
THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2025
YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER Jamaican lawmaker wants mandatory DNA testing at birth to combat 'jacket' culture
“There are men who build relationships with children who are not their own, and it is only when it goes to court that the truth comes out. By that point, families are already broken.” – Clarke
continues on A4 – Mandatory DNA test
No longer your birthright: New gov't executive order shakes up U.S. citizenship President Donald Trump has signed an executive order changing how birthright citizenship works in the United States. Under the new rule, not all children born on U.S. soil will automatically be considered U.S. citizens. The order states that children born in the U.S. will not qualify for citizenship if their mother is in the country unlawfully or on a temporary visa, such as a student or tourist visa, unless their father is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). This new rule applies only to children
born 30 days or more after the order was signed (on January 20). The White House clarified that the privilege of U.S. citizenship is a profound gift,
rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants citizenship to individuals born in the U.S. who are "subject to the jurisdiction thereof." The amendment historically repudiated the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision (1857), which had denied African Americans U.S. citizenship. However, the order asserts that the Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the U.S. Under this new interpretation, the order explicitly excludes from birthright citizenship children born under two conditions: 1.When the mother was unlawfully present in the U.S., and the father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of the child's birth.
2.When the mother's presence was lawful but temporary (e.g., on a student, work, or tourist visa), and the father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The order also mandates strict enforcement measures. Federal departments, including Homeland Security, the State Department, and the Justice Department, are tasked with implementing the order. Within 30 days, these agencies must issue public guidance to align their policies and ensure compliance. This change could significantly affect families in the Caribbean American community. Many Caribbean immigrants in the U.S. have children who gain citizenship simply by being born in the country, a process protected under the Fourteenth Amendment. This continues on B3 – Birthright
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER Barbados PM Mia Mottley honored with Suriname's highest award a3
CARIBBEAN Trump revokes Biden's decision to remove Cuba from state sponsors of terrorism list A4
TLC Dominica prepares for Mas Domnik 2025 B1
SPORTS Mason Greenwood’s path to Reggae Boyz faces hurdles, says JFF B7