[CarolinaGuitarman]

"The Fourteenth Amendment was a botch-job of major proportions, and this may be one more example of that principle. Bottom line: don't make hasty assumptions in either direction on this point."


I agree. I have no doubt that from what the writers of this amendment have said in various places that they did NOT want the children of non-citizens to become automatic citizens if they were born here. And I agree; I don't think it should be that easy either. I wish they had used clearer language and just said *the complete jurisdiction*. As it is stated now, it's too ambiguous; it could mean what they said, or it could mean what it has been accepted as too. I would prefer a more direct statement.

[ClaireSolt]

Suppose we were to declare that as the US has complete jurisdiction over all babies born in the US, we will take custody of them and put them in orphanages when their parents are not Americans. Do you think that would fly?