One issue that has popped up in the primary race between Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater is so-called “anchor babies” - children born in America to illegal immigrants who automatically gain U.S. citizenship. One advocacy group says eliminating that provision in the Constitution would not end illegal immigration.
The Immigration Policy Center says birthright citizenship, which Is part of the 14th Amendment, is under attack by congress and many state legislators who want to push a legal challenge all the way to the Supreme Court. However, they contend that eliminating it would not solve the problem of illegal immigration
Since children born to undocumented immigrants would presumably be undocumented, the size of the undocumented populations would actually increase as a result of the new policy. While some children could acquire the citizenship of their parents, others would be left with no citizenship or nationality, leaving them stateless.
They also say that ending birthright citizenship actually would be a distraction from dealing with the real problems inherent in our immigration system.
Immigrants come to the U.S. to work, to reunite with their families, or to flee persecution. Denying birthright citizenship will not discourage unauthorized immigrants from coming to the U.S., and it will not encourage those already here to leave.
Post a Comment
The real surprise is that Lee is Now saying something he wasn't willing to say in court.
"based on his reading of the 14th Amendment that illegal immigrants aren't "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States."
The links that show that Mike Lee, either believes those that are in this country without permission have Constitutional Rights, or does not believe they do but was unwilling to defend his beliefs are below:
http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/2004/10/03-4218.htm
"Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lee said Tuesday he had been directed by the Solicitor General's Office not to address the Fourth Amendment issue on appeal."
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595060962/Court-may-avoid-immigration-ruling.html
bbarton
The one very meaningful side of this discussion is that if the 14th Amendment were changed to disallow children born in the United States become instant citizens, there would be a very sizeable decrease in undocumented usage of the many social programs they are now allowed. That would mean a large savings in taxpayer dollars going into these programs.