Posted on 07/29/2010 8:12:41 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced Wednesday night that he is considering introducing a constitutional amendment that would change existing law to no longer grant citizenship to the children of immigrants born in the United States.
Currently, the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to any child born within the United States.
But with 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, Graham said it may be time to restrict the ability of immigrants to have children who become citizens just because they are born within the country.
“I may introduce a constitutional amendment that changes the rules if you have a child here,” Graham said during an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “Birthright citizenship I think is a mistake, that we should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child's automatically not a citizen.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Having said that, it's still probably a great debate to have for conservatives going into the 2012 election, especially considering what happened to SB1070 yesterday. It can't be enacted, but the issue is politically beneficial to conservatives.
“Pure political theater on Graham’s part. He knows he’s in trouble with his conservative base.”
True. What really counted was the Kagan vote, and he delivered for his Liberal masters.
Graham, Y O U L I E !!!!
Lindsey, join McCain and just go away.
When I heard him float the idea on Greta’s show, I nearly fell off the couch.
It was too smart of an idea for a doofus like him.
This is pure BS.
This is the same fakiery which they used to block the Federal Marriage Amendment. They wheeled out the bogus flag burning amendment to distract.
ILLEGAL alien birthright citizenship should be stopped.
HOWEVER THE DREAM ACT MAKES ALL BABIES REGARDLESS OF CITIZENSHIP INTO ANCHOR BABIES.
GRAHAM LIES, AMERICANS DIE.
I guess being burned flogged and kicked in effigy a few days ago, he figures he needs to do a little redemption. LMAO!
If we control the borders in the first place far fewer will be born here.
Given the chance, he would probably vote against ratification.
I think it is time to take a hard look at this. I don’t see a downside at all and it would decrease the illegals coming over by possibly a large amount.
He may not be serious about it, but many of us are.
It was most important to oppose Kagan. Graham buckled and voted for her. It is easy to champion an amendment to do away with birthright citizenship, since it will never happen.
Someone needs to tell Graham and McCain that it’s best to spread fertilizer in the fall.
Exactly. bttt
Both he and McCain know when and which bones to throw to conservatives so as to fool them into voting for them again. I wish the voters would wise up to it.
Go to http://www.14thamendment.us/ for clarification.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads in part:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside."
Babies born to illegal alien mothers within U.S. borders are called anchor babies because under the 1965 immigration Act, they act as an anchor that pulls the illegal alien mother and eventually a host of other relatives into permanent U.S. residency. (Jackpot babies is another term).
The United States did not limit immigration in 1868 when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified. Thus there were, by definition, no illegal immigrants and the issue of citizenship for children of those here in violation of the law was nonexistent. Granting of automatic citizenship to children of illegal alien mothers is a recent and totally inadvertent and unforeseen result of the amendment and the Reconstructionist period in which it was ratified.
This feels like satire.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Linseed Gayhams puffed a pack of pickled peckers.
If Lindseed picked a peck of puffing pipers,
How many pickled peckers did Linseed Gayhams puff?
While they are at it, they need to specifically define natural born citizen, and make sure it applies to the Presidency.
The 14th Amendment was never intended to make anchor babies US citizens.
The first line of the amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Most readers skip over the phrase, “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”. The US Immigration and Nationality Act, Title III, section 301 [8 U.S.C. 1401] states, “The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof;”
Why does everyone ignore the phrase, “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”?
In the US Supreme Court case Elk v. Wilkins, 112 U.S. 94 (1884)
The Court held that, “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” meant “not merely subject in some respect or degree to the jurisdiction of the United States, but completely subject to their political jurisdiction, and owing them direct and immediate allegiance.”
The fact is that these anchor babies owe their allegiance to the nation their parents hold citizenship in, and they are subject to the jurisdiction of that foreign nation.
Also, so many times we are told that the 14th Amendment does not apply to the children born to foreign ministers or ambassadors, however in the Slaughterhouse Cases, 83 U.S. 36 (1873), the Supreme Court stated, “The phrase, “subject to its jurisdiction” was intended to exclude from its operation children of ministers, consuls, and citizens or subjects of foreign States born within the United States.”
So, there really is no need for a new Amendment. The 14th Amendment was never meant to apply to anchor babies in the first place.
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