Post subject: Outcry over "birthright citizenship"
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:11 pm
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:59 am Posts: 18643 Location: Raleigh, NC Gender: Male
By David Crary
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A proposal to change long-standing federal policy and deny citizenship to babies born to illegal immigrants on U.S. soil ran aground this month in Congress, but it is sure to resurface, kindling bitter debate even if it fails to become law.
At issue is "birthright citizenship," provided for since the Constitution's 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868.
Section 1 of that amendment, drafted with freed slaves in mind, says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
Some conservatives in Congress, as well as advocacy groups seeking to crack down on illegal immigration, say the amendment has been misapplied, that it was never intended to grant citizenship automatically to babies of illegal immigrants. Thus they contend that federal legislation, rather than a difficult-to-achieve constitutional amendment, would be sufficient to end birthright citizenship.
With more than 70 co-sponsors, Georgia Republican Rep. Nathan Deal tried to include a revocation of birthright citizenship in an immigration bill passed by the House in mid-December. GOP House leaders did not let the proposal come to a vote.
"Most Americans feel it doesn't make any sense for people to come into the country illegally, give birth and have a new U.S. citizen," said Ira Mehlman of the Federation of American Immigration Reform, which backs Deal's proposal. "But the advocates for illegal immigrants will make a fuss; they'll claim you're punishing the children, and I suspect the leadership doesn't want to deal with that."
Deal has said he will continue pushing the issue, describing birthright citizenship as "a huge magnet" attracting illegal immigrants. He cited estimates — challenged by immigrant advocates — that roughly 10 percent of births in the United States, or close to 400,000 a year, are babies born to illegal immigrants.
"It's an issue that we are very concerned about," said Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy research for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy organization that opposes any effort to revoke birthright citizenship.
"This was always seen in the past as some extreme, wacko proposal that never goes anywhere," she said. "But these so-called wacko proposals are becoming more and more mainstream. It's becoming more acceptable to have a discussion about it."
According to a survey last month by Rasmussen Reports, a nonpartisan public-opinion research firm, 49 percent of Americans polled favor ending birthright citizenship, and 41 percent favor keeping it. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., a leading proponent of tougher measures to stop illegal immigration, believes public opinion could shift further in favor of Deal's measure.
"Any issue that has a 'damn right' response, you can go with," Tancredo said. "You ask if we should stop illegal immigrants from coming onto this country and having a baby here who is an American citizen, and most people say, 'Damn right.' "
However, Tancredo acknowledged that Deal's measure faces major obstacles. Though he believes the House GOP leadership will eventually allow the proposal to come to a vote, Tancredo said it could flounder in the Senate or draw a veto from President Bush, who has sought to steer a middle course on some immigration issues.
Tancredo, Deal and others have noted that the United States is among the relatively few wealthy nations that allow birthright citizenship.
However, Lucas Guttentag, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, said some Western European nations with different policies have suffered problems.
"Look at Germany: The children of guest workers are not citizens," he said. "That creates enormous social and racial tensions. That's the opposite of where we want to go."
Some critics of current policy refer to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants as "anchor babies" because — when they reach adulthood — they can sponsor their parents for legal permanent residency. Immigrant-rights groups say the number of such cases is smaller than critics allege.
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I really don't think children of illegals should be citizens.
I do, however, think it should be easier to become a citizen here.
Anyhow, found it interesting.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:38 am Posts: 5575 Location: Sydney, NSW
Good luck changing the constitution.
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Some conservatives in Congress, as well as advocacy groups seeking to crack down on illegal immigration, say the amendment has been misapplied, that it was never intended to grant citizenship automatically to babies of illegal immigrants. Thus they contend that federal legislation, rather than a difficult-to-achieve constitutional amendment, would be sufficient to end birthright citizenship.
This would not require changing the constitution, it would require a federal law which passes a Supreme Court challenge.
It's about goddamn time they attempted something like this. When that amendment was written the US population was like 1/5 of what it is now and they rightly claim the intention of that amendment was to prevent federal/state/local governments from revoking the citizenship of children whose parents whose citizenship has been removed.
The benefits of citizenship should earned, not given.
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 3:13 am Posts: 4932 Location: SEX MAKES BABIES?!
Coming from a non-US citizen, I also agree that they shouldn't get American citizenship. But, if the Conservatives are saying that a section of the constitution is being "misapplied" they better shut the fuck up about the Right to Bear Arms
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Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:54 am Posts: 7189 Location: CA
JimNasium wrote:
Coming from a non-US citizen, I also agree that they shouldn't get American citizenship. But, if the Conservatives are saying that a section of the constitution is being "misapplied" they better shut the fuck up about the Right to Bear Arms
Now now friend, those pesky commas are at fault for the ambiguity that stems from our favorite ammendment.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
broken_iris wrote:
This would not require changing the constitution, it would require a federal law which passes a Supreme Court challenge.
I agree. This is a matter of Constitutional interpretation.
Quote:
It's about goddamn time they attempted something like this. When that amendment was written the US population was like 1/5 of what it is now and they rightly claim the intention of that amendment was to prevent federal/state/local governments from revoking the citizenship of children whose parents whose citizenship has been removed.
Huh? I thought the original intention of the 14th Amendment was to make it so that former slaves and their descendants would be classified as citizens. Where does this "removing citizenship" stuff come from?
Quote:
The benefits of citizenship should earned, not given.
Watch out for that slippery slope, my friend. I've got a list of Americans whose families have lived here for generations whose citizenships I think should be shitcanned.
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Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:51 am Posts: 17078 Location: TX
This issue makes me so furious that I am pretty sure it would be impossible for me to add anything meaningful to this thread, aside from saying that I fucking hate that law from the bottom of my heart, and illegal immigrants crossing the border to give berth makes me want to murder people more than anything else in this country, except maybe Bush.
Watch out for that slippery slope, my friend. I've got a list of Americans whose families have lived here for generations whose citizenships I think should be shitcanned.- PD
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