Elections

Christie: Abolishing Birthright Citizenship Is An ‘Applause Line’ [VIDEO]

Steve Guest Media Reporter
Font Size:

Chris Christie blasted Donald Trump’s idea to abolish birth-right citizenship Sunday, saying it is “an applause line.”

Christie, appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation” with John Dickerson, said regarding immigration reform, “let’s talk about the things we can fix, and fix simply without having to amend the Constitution where we would need two-thirds of the Congress and 38 states to agree.”

John Dickerson: We begin with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and his thoughts on Donald Trump’s plan to fix illegal immigration.

Chris Christie: You know in many ways it is just too simplistic, you know the idea of building a wall, kicking everybody out, and ending birthright citizenship. You know, all sounds you know, appealing in some respects to some folks, but I just think it is a very complicated problem and it requires someone who understands how to do a complicated and nuanced solution to that problem. The fact is, we can do this the right way, and we should do it the right way.

Dickerson: Is that the larger question about Mr. Trump’s policies, is that they are too simplistic?

Christie: You know, listen, I haven’t listened to every one of his proposals that he has put out there. But I’ll say this, I understand why the American people are frustrated. They are frustrated because they feel that the government can’t do anything right, they can’t execute on anything. And I, the difference here in my approach is that they they know that I am a guy who knows how to enforce the law. I did it as U.S. Attorney. I’m doing it as governor of New Jersey. In very difficult circumstances with a Democratic legislature. What they want is to have a detailed plan that they know someone can execute on and enforce and I have the history of doing that.

Dickerson: You mention birthright citizenship. Your position is what on it?

Christie: It’s in the Constitution and I don’t think we should be looking to change it. Now, what I said was, if we wanted to have comprehensive immigrant reform, I’d be willing to listen to anything. But the truth of the matter is that it’s not something that, that’s not something that we should be focused on, that is an applause line. The fact is that it is in the Constitution, let’s talk about the things we can fix, and fix simply without having to amend the Constitution where we would need two-thirds of the Congress and 38 states to agree.

Follow Steve on Twitter