Birthright citizenship debate a distraction, GOP rivals say

AP/YAHOO NEWS ^ | 23 AUGUST 2015 | SERGIO BUSTOS

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

MIAMI (AP) — The debate over a controversial proposal to end the automatic granting of citizenship to children of people in the U.S. illegally is a distraction from what the nation really needs to do to stem the tide of illegal immigration, several Republican presidential candidates said Sunday. Related Stories

On the television network news talk shows, the GOP hopefuls said enforcing U.S. immigration laws would resolve the problem of "birthright citizenship" without having to go through what they see as an impractical effort to end it with a constitutional amendment.

[Will88]

Birthright citizenship debate a distraction, GOP rivals say

It's also the anchor that makes enforcement of our immigration laws and the removal of illegals far more complicated than it should be.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Criminal leftist media again creating a false premise, and stupid Republicans are falling for it.

Yup. Although some are probably purposely falling into it.

[Mariner]

"So I am a HUGE supporter of birthright citizenship. "

So you support a misinterpretation of law which endangers the nation, because of personal feelings you have for a refugee?

[Mariner]

"Article 1, I believe gives Congress sole and plenary power to determine who gets to be a citizen. "

Article I, Section 8, Clause 4:

Congress shall have the power to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

It's not ambiguous and it's an exclusive power.

[Charles Martel]

I am all for birthright citizenship. Case in point there is a family that is here on a work visa from a country that does not like homeschooling and will take their children away if they choose to homeschool. The wife is pregnant and when she gives birth they will be able to stay and raise their children in freedom.

I think that the infant, having obtained latent American citizenship, should be able to choose to live here - after he reaches the age of majority. Until that happens, he is the responsibility of his parents and should reside in their home country. THAT is birthright citizenship, as opposed to birth tourism.

[ColdSteelTalon]

Sorry mariner you don’t get to put words in my mouth. I aint biting.

[Graybeard58]

Nowhere in the debate was it mentioned that the Constitution needed amendment.

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You’re right of course, no amendment needed. Should the issue ever arrive at the supreme court however, as the court is constituted now, they would rule differently.

The amendment deal is a years long process too.

[ColdSteelTalon]

That would be a correct reading of my intent. Birthright citizenship has its uses and they are lawful ones. Many on Free Republic assume that birthright citizenship is nothing but bad. But much good can come of it. Good that people may not see at first glance.

We should button up our borders tight and strictly enforce our immigration laws as they are. Those should be our first priorities.