Bill would deny U.S. citizenship to children of illegal immigrants

NCTimes ^

[Happy2BMe]

"The key to this invasion is enforcing existing laws on the books. Prosecuting indidviduals that hire illegal aliens would help also."

==============================

And how do you suppose going about doing that when those given the responsibility to enforce the existing laws are the very ones who are circumventing them?

Tagline time.

[Clemenza]

Most of Latin America recognizes citizenship for those born within the national borders to foreign nationals. When I was in Costa Rica, a major complaint was about Nicaraguan anchor babies.

[Ingtar]

I agree, about time. Deal with the anchor baby problem. But... would this not take an amendment to the Constitution?

[Neoliberalnot]

Sorry, but that only applies to those children born here legally. You see, there is a difference and the end does not justify the means if such is illegal.

[skeeter]

Subject to the jurisdiction means subject to the laws of the US which every person in the US is except foreign diplomats.

Suppose a baby is born to an illegal mother without record of the birth being made. The mother claims it was born inside our borders.

Is it a citizen or not?

[Yaelle]

The wonderful thing about this is it could be the slippery slope we are looking for. Since it only affects the children of ILLEGAL immigrants, babies born to people here who waited in line for the proper visas would be welcome Americans. So would the babies of tourists. But babies of ILLEGALS would not become citizens.

This may be the first step to get the focus on the word "illegal" again, and might lead to other laws, such as not providing schooling to people who are not residents. And someone here illegally could be determined NOT to be a resident. Cool.

Could you imagine the pregnant illegal, going in to have her baby, and being explained to in Spanish, "This is your obstetrician. He will deliver your baby for free. This here is your pediatrician. He will make sure your baby is healthy, for free. And here is your immigration control officer. He will escort your baby back to Mexico for free."

[wtc911]

Korean women often "visit" Hawaii or LA in the final weeks of a pregnancy. They stay until the child is born in the States. They then return with a child who can use his US status to avoid compulsory military service in the ROK 18 years later.

[COEXERJ145]

Wrong, Congress is given the authority under Article III, Section 1 to setup the federal courts which includes their jurisdiction. Congress has already limited the court's jurisdiction before and they can do it again. There is also a bill to remove the federal court's ability to hear any cases involving homosexual marriage but that's another issue.

[ozarkgirl]

""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"".

Could it be the argument will be since they are not legally born here, they are not "subject to the jurisdiction thereof"? It says born here AND subject to the jurisdiction thereof.

Just a thought.

[Clemenza]

To my knowledge, Costa Rica, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, and Colombia all grant citizenship to those born within their borders to foreign nationals.

[Lurking Libertarian]

I read an article about New Jersey illegals that had been caught and had to leave with their 11 yr old daughter, even though the daughter was born here. I was under the assumption that that law was repealed in '93-'94.

The law that a child born here is a citizen has not been repealed (and cannot be unless the 14th Amendment is amended.) What was repealed in 1993 was the "anchor baby" statute, which said that a child citizen could sponsor her illegal parents. The result is that, if illegal aliens have a child born in the U.S., they have to either give the child up for adoption, or take the child with them when they are deported (but the child gets to return at age 18).

[eleni121]

One way to fix this immigration mess would be to get rid of most govt-mandated "social welfare" programs starting with Medicaid and food stamps.

It is ridiculous how corrupt these programs are. Doing away with these regressive and oppressive socialistic schemes for EVERYBODY would go a long way into limiting the number of illegal immigrants (or any for that matter), except the best.

Passing law after law and or erecting barriers on the borders is plainly ineffective.

[BlessedBeGod]

Excellent! :-)

[mlc9852]

"Prosecuting individuals that hire illegal aliens would help also." You mean like politicians? Yeah, that'll happen.

[freeangel]

Let's face it. SCOTUS gives not one crap about the Constitution. They make up its own laws based on international opinion now.

[George Smiley]

Sorry, but that only applies to those children born here legally. You see, there is a difference and the end does not justify the means if such is illegal.

As they used to say on Usenet, "Cite, please."

Show us where legal and illegal birth is defined in the law.

[skeeter]

Funny how some people are never happy no matter what happens. One step at a time will result in far more being done than trying for everything all at once.

For once lets not invite a flame war.

Most of us would be tickled pink if this measured were to ass.

[shattered]

Probably won't happen but if it does maybe they will make it retroactive for the past 10 years :o!

[COEXERJ145]

Let's face it. SCOTUS gives not one crap about the Constitution. They make up its own laws based on international opinion now.

I never said they didn't. As long as they have jurisdiction over a particular case, they're going to be pulling the same crap over and over. Congress has several options available to control the federal courts including impeachment, amending the Constitution, and restricting the courts' jurisdiction.

[afnamvet]

And how do you suppose going about doing that when those given the responsibility to enforce the existing laws are the very ones who are circumventing them?

Isn't enforcement of current immigration law the responsibility of The Department of Homeland Security?