A resurfaced video featuring Rep. Wesley Hunt has renewed debate over birthright citizenship, with the Texas Republican arguing that the policy should not apply to children born to individuals in the United States illegally.

In the video, Hunt contrasts the historical basis of citizenship for descendants of slaves with what he describes as a modern reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment.

He argues that extending automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants departs from the amendment’s original intent and diminishes the meaning of American citizenship.

“But there's a difference between giving citizenship to the children of slaves, the children of those subject to the Middle Passage, the children of sharecroppers and the children of those who were once considered property, and giving citizenship to the children of people who cross the border illegally stay in taxpayer funded luxury hotels,” Hunt said.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

“There's a big difference.”

Hunt referenced his own family history while making the case, pointing to ancestors who lived under slavery and later secured their freedom. “My great great grandfather was born a plantation rose down plantation in Louisiana. He had to join the union color guard to gain his freedom by morphing the citizenship clause into something that it wasn't meant to be. It's demeaning to descendants of slaves like me.”

The congressman said the current interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause has expanded beyond its intended scope.

He argued that citizenship in the United States has historically been tied to sacrifice and legal status, not simply birthplace.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“We are talking about a direct descendant of a slave that earned, earned the right to be in this country, and passed that ilk down to his ancestry. People bled for it, and it made something,” Hunt said.

Hunt also pointed to President Donald Trump’s executive order addressing birthright citizenship, describing it as an effort to clarify how the amendment should be applied.

He said the order reflects a view that the citizenship clause was not designed to grant automatic citizenship to children born to non-citizens.

“The purpose of President Trump's birthright citizenship executive order is that the citizenship clause of the 14th amendment was never meant to apply to children of illegal or legal aliens,” Hunt said.

He warned that maintaining the current interpretation of birthright citizenship diminishes the value of citizenship for Americans.

“Allowing birthright citizenship to stay in place dilutes the citizenship of not just black Americans like me, but every single American citizen, they had to earn it the right way.”

Hunt framed the issue as a clear legal distinction, emphasizing the importance of defining citizenship in precise terms. “Let's say this in black and white, either you're a US citizen or you are not.”

He also criticized political opponents, arguing that their approach to immigration and citizenship has weakened the concept over time.

“Now, the left has spent decades cheapening what it means to be an American citizen. They've quite literally been chipping away at the basic value of American citizenship. They pretend to be altruistic. We know the truth.”

WATCH:

The Real MOU: What Trump’s Iran Agreement Actually Says – Truth Thursday | EP 677