Posted on 02/27/2007 10:11:31 AM PST by NormsRevenge
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Lone Star State has long welcomed Latino immigrants, no matter how they got across the state's 1,200-mile border with Mexico.
Back when California voted to cut public services to illegal immigrants, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush was preaching that immigrants were equal players in the state's economy.
But the atmosphere has changed markedly in Texas, home to about 10% of the nation's illegal immigrants.
--snip--
The proposal to deny services to American citizens, which is thought to be the first in the country, is part of a push to challenge the citizenship given automatically to children born in this country to illegal immigrants.
Prior rulings have affirmed that nearly all such children were entitled to birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. But some legal scholars have questioned whether the amendment, which redefined national citizenship to include the children of slaves after the Civil War, should cover babies born to foreign parents.
The Pew Hispanic Center estimated last year that more than 3 million U.S. citizens were born to illegal immigrant parents.
"The Texas bill could be a vehicle to get this before the courts, and we strongly support that," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has been pushing Congress to revisit the 14th Amendment. "There is no question that it is time for a review, given the number of people entering the country illegally and giving birth."
Texas' shift toward a more incendiary brand of immigration politics comes at a time when many state lawmakers are frustrated that Washington has failed to stop illegal immigration. Few think President Bush's moderate proposals, which include a guest worker program and enhanced border security, will help much, even if they are approved by Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The Pew Hispanic Center estimated last year that more than 3 million U.S. citizens were born to illegal immigrant parents.
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The rape of America, and the American taxpayer continues. Washington fiddles, while America burns.
Anyone ever ask the question "How many lettuce pickers do we really need?" Of course this question goes to all of the industry in our country. How many do we really need? Do we not have a number on how many immigrants are allowed in this country? I agree that we need to get rid of this idea that if a child is born here, it automatically becomes a citizen.
"Every Person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons."
Senator Jacob Howard,
co-author of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment, 1866.
Senator Jacob Howard,
co-author of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment, 1866.
Good luck finding any ANY lawmaker that has the b*lls to bring this issue up for serious debate and consideration.
Note, a 30-second rant on Talk Radio or Fox News does NOT count as "serious."
pls spread this quote
Says it all right there. Mentioned in the article is retaliation from the Hispanic segment that opposes this. Folks, those numbers have grown because we have allowed them too. There is great strength in numbers and with all the illegals and their citizened children, well we are daily screwing ourselves out of our own country. Handing it back to Mexico. We have no one else to blame then ourselves. Boo Fing Hoo. If one won't do something, then learn Spanish and quit whining.
A bigger issue is the number of relatively to very well off, status-conscious people (i.e. significant donors to political campaigns) who have asked the question "How many dirt-cheap manual laborers do we need to maintain our Astroturf-like lawn and to do the manual labor part of the endless renovations of our McMansions and to vacuum our floors and keep our granite kitchen counter sparkling?" They've answered themselves "a lot". When was the last the time you drove through a "nice" neighborhood and saw a front lawn covered in ivy? When was the last the time you drove through a "nice" neighborhood and saw a front lawn being mowed by someone who looked like s/he could plausibly be the homeowner or the homeowner's child?
Personally, I like the idea that NOBODY should be born a citizen - everybody should have to complete the naturalization process before they can vote or hold office...
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