The 14th Amendment to the Constitution says, "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."
It's a pretty clear passage in the Constitution that defines who can be a citizen.
Last month, Rep. Steven King of Iowa introduced legislation that would exclude US born children of undocumented immigrants.
Astonishingly, 73% of babies born to illegals were born in the US, making them eligible for costly benefits that are ordinarily granted to US citizens.
While there's nothing new about changing this regulation, the method that King is using, government legislation, is far more easier than actually ratifying a Constitutional Amendment. There is so much weight and legal precedent that upholds the "natural born" right, that there doesn't appear to be much hope in changing it. Rep. King's intent appears to attempt to put he US in step with most of the world, in that merely being born in a country does not automatically grant citizenship. In fact, most nations assign citizenship to that of at least one of their parents or will require illegal immigrants be long-time residents before their children can be born citizens.
"They come here to drop a child," Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-SC) said of immigrant mothers. "It's called drop and leave."
That being said....It's quite clear that the system is broken. What will curb the illegal immigration problem?
Maybe Arizona has the right idea, but the wrong method. Whatever path they choose will not be popular and will no doubt lead to costly legislation.
