Posted on 07/17/2025 7:14:32 AM PDT by Red Badger
In epic news for the MAGA movement and its mass deportation agenda, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has pushed forward legislation that, if passes, will finally put an end to birthright citizenship, codifying into federal law what President Trump has tried to accomplish via executive order.
As background, the 14th Amendment’s provision that made all former slaves citizens of the United States after the US Civil War has since been used to enshrine the concept of “birthright citizenship,” meaning that anyone who is born here is a citizen even if neither parent is an American citizen, or even here legally.
Because many illegal aliens have children while in America, that has ballooned the population of leftist-minded citizens who many in the MAGA movement think aren’t really American citizens in the real sense of the term and thus shouldn’t legally be treated as American citizens. President Trump evidently agrees, as shown by his executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship.
More effective than an executive order, however, would be a law, which is what Sen. Cotton is trying to accomplish with the bill he is introducing to the Senate. Called the Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act, it would, if passed, amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify who receives birthright citizenship and who does not.
Under the clarification of the act as provided in Sen. Cotton’s bill, “anchor babies” born in America to illegal aliens will no longer be eligible for birthright citizenship. Further, the CCCA would clarify that those who are born in America to either foreign terrorists or foreign spies are not rewarded with birthright citizenship.
Speaking about the bill in a statement reported upon by Breitbart, Sen. Cotton argued that there should be no constitutional right for illegal aliens to cross the border and have their children be American citizens, as they shouldn’t be here in the first place. He said, “There is no constitutional right for illegal aliens to cross the border to gain citizenship for their children.”
Continuing, he explained that birthright citizenship has been a magnet that has drawn ever more illegal aliens into the country, and that ending it will help end the Biden-inflicted border crisis. He said, “Granting birthright citizenship to illegal aliens has contributed to the highest levels of illegal immigration in history. Fixing this will help reduce the damage from Joe Biden’s catastrophic border crisis.”
Further, Sen. Cotton tweeted about the matter, noting that there is no Constitutional reason we have to allow the illegal immigrant magnet to continue. He said, “Birthright citizenship for illegal aliens has no basis in the Constitution. It’s a magnet for illegal immigration. President Trump is absolutely right to work to end this abusive practice.”
Sen. Cotton has also remained committed to promoting ICE, Border Patrol, and the DHS generally taking a much harder line with illegal immigration, ending the “catch and release” border policy in which caught illegals were released into the United States anyway, for which the Biden Administration was infamous.
Announcing the move, DHS said, “The Biden administration dangerously unleashed millions of unvetted illegal aliens into American communities—and they used many loopholes to do so. President Trump and Secretary Noem are now enforcing this law as it was actually written to keep America safe. Politicians and activists can cry wolf all they want, but it won’t deter this administration from keeping these criminals and lawbreakers off American streets—and now thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, we will have plenty of bed space to do so.”
Sen. Cotton, praising the decision to end the policy and take a much tougher line on illegal immigration in a quote tweet, noted, “Great news. I commend President Trump and @DHSgov for ending the outrageous ‘catch & release’ policy that encouraged illegal immigration and made a mockery of our sovereignty.”
Watch Trump sign the executive order ending birthright citizenship here:
VIDEO AT LINK.......................
It was easier to look up than I expected. Both chambers look like simple majority... This may have legs.
The Senate:
For most votes, including those on bills, resolutions, and amendments, a simple majority is sufficient. This means more than half of the senators voting must be in favor.
House of Representatives:
In the house:
A bill needs a majority of the representatives present and voting to pass. With 435 voting members, a simple majority is 218.
I look these things up but have no faith in the answer since it seems to always have some kinds of exceptions. I certainly don’t rely on my understanding that seemed so clear when I took civics nearly 60 years ago now. I hope you are right and it does have legs.
UNDER THE JURISDICTION THEREOF
IS the part no DEM seems capable of reading.
One argument that should be put forth and hasn’t been to my knowledge is the situation of American Indians. They were most certainly born in the U.S. but did not get citizenship until Congress passed a law granting it in 1924. If American Indians whose ancestors lived on what was to become American soil for millennia weren’t citizens, why should some kid whose mom just crossed the border be one?
A start, but don’t forget that there is Murkowski, Collins, Tillis, McConnell, Graham, Cornyn all waiting to kill it on orders from the donor class, the Bush/Rove cronies, and the Chamber of Commerce.
At the time, through treaty obligations, Indians on the reservations were not considered fully under the jurisdiction.
What would make me really happy would be making it retroactive for the past 40 years!
Originalism in the US constitution would have prevented the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments from being passed.
The founders never intended to force states to "ratify" amendments by having the army point guns at them.
Even in regular law, any contract made under duress is null and void.
Neither were transient foreigners.
And to not put too fine a point on it, all the immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America are "Indians" by the way they defined it in 1868.
Great news!!
Thanks for posting...
So many idiots can’t or won’t understand that
Yeah, I know you want to re-litigate and re-fight the Civil War and that specific set of years during and right after it.
As for the text of the 14th, which is what I was referring to, it is what it is.
The 14th Amendment is a slavery amendment and nothing more. It’s not gay marriages and illegal aliens and prayer in schools. That’s not what the war was over.
As for the text of the 14th, originalism is the answer.
I mean, I seemingly typed it daily during the Bush years.
The GOP took ACTION against conservatives to help out the Democrats.
It fits.
Isn't it a little hypocritical to long for "Originalism" and then wish I would stop talking about it when "Originalism" doesn't go the direction you want?
As for the text of the 14th, originalism is the answer.
As for the text of the original constitution, using soldiers to *FORCE* people to vote the way you want is *NOT* the answer.
What will be the status of illegal aliens’ children who’ve been here all their lives and know English better than their parents’ language (the so-called ‘Dreamers’) who’ve had no choice in these matters? We can’t have them in a limbo as “sorta-citizens”.
Give them the option given Legal Immigrants where they are the responsibility of legal relatives or a sponsor for so much time (off the dole) then take the test and Oath.
And Cotton...he needs close watching.
Unfortunately I don’t think you can apply a law retroactively.
I think it will take a Constitutional Amendment and would never pass.
Ilan Wurman | The Case Against Birthright Citizenship | NatCon 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ifpA77Jjuc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.