I have argued that an amendment is needed to change the words "person" and "people" to "citizen" throughout the Constitution.
The repeal of the Fourteenth Amendment should also be a priority. In particular, citizenship should not--and must not--be based upon the location in which one is born. Quite simply, if one or both parents is a citizen, the child should be a citizen. If neither parent is a citizen, the child should not be a citizen.
American Citizenship should be precious, and confer certain rights that should not pertain to non-citizens.
--Boris
"Unfortunately the illegals and enemy aliens are covered by the Bill of Rights...".
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The Bill of Rights lists restrictions on our government in it's dealings with United States citizens. Giving non-citizens the same protections citizens have is a threat to national security, which any government is required to provide it's citizens.
The inclusion of illegals is un-Constitutional.
To legally include illegal non-citizens would require a Constitutional Amendment.
"...If we had a formal declaration of war,
it would be much easier to deport the enemy aliens..."
# 175 by boris
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Also, if we had a formal Declaration of War,
we wouldn't be violating the Constitution with our un-declared war.
Without a Declaration of War,
we are illegally violating the freedom
of a sovereign nation.
Why is it so hard for our leaders to follow the Constitution?
With an almost unanimous agreement on a "use of force,"
why is a legal, declared war so hard?
Ron Paul can see that.
He's trying to get that Declaration of War from our Congress.
"...The repeal of the Fourteenth Amendment should also be a priority.
In particular, citizenship should not--and must not--be based upon the location in which one is born.
Quite simply, if one or both parents is a citizen, the child should be a citizen.
If neither parent is a citizen, the child should not be a citizen.
# 175 by boris
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A repeal of the Fourteenth Amendment would be a mistake.
We would lose-
"...No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States..."
"... nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..."
"...(No State shall) deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws..."
Those are important restrictions on our government,
and I don't want to lose them.
This is the central issue, and we should not wrap ourselves around the philosophical axle about what "rights" are or where they come from. That is a distraction and unproductive.
I would clarify your statement to say that citizenship confers our Republic's duty and obligation and commitment to protect, defend and maintain those innate rights as an American citizen.
The US can not and should not attempt to do likewise to everybody in the world to prove dedication to that idea.