Republicans move to block US citizenship for children of illegal aliens

[babsbunny]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/03/republicans-block-citizenship-illegal-aliens

Senators plan to halt 'invasion by birth canal' by overturning constitutional guarantee for anyone born on US soil

Chris McGreal in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 August 2010 18.43 BST

Senior Republicans have escalated the increasingly bitter fight over immigration with proposals to rewrite the US constitution to block the children of illegal aliens from obtaining citizenship.

In the latest move to inflame the racially tinged issue ahead of November's congressional and state elections, Republican senators say they intend to call hearings on overturning the 14th amendment to the constitution, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the US. Leading Republicans have denounced the provision as outdated, saying it encourages "invasion by birth canal" in which illegal immigrants smuggle themselves into the US to have "anchor babies".

The change is being pushed by the Republican whip in the Senate, John Kyl, and senator Lindsey Graham, who said that "birthright citizenship is a mistake".

[XemaSab]

1. Yeah, let's have shtetls of people

who aren't Americans and never will be even unto the 10th generation.

Because that's always worked out so well for everyone.

[arbusto_baboso]

2. But, but..... I thought the Constitution was infallible. Like the Bible.

But then, Rethugs keep reinterpreting the Bible for their own purposes, so I guess this makes sense, too.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Gee, I thought they were strict Constitutionalists?!

Hypocrite fucking assholes.

[iamjoy]

10. Well, From Their Point of View

It is their opinion that the intent of our government in creating and ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment was to help black people who had been held as slaves. They would argue that it was never the intent of those who voted for the 14th Amendment for it to be used to allow folks to come here illegally and have their children reap the rewards.

this is not necessarily what I believe, but I can follow the logic of their argument.

[Mariana]

13. Since the Constitution provides a means of amending it,

one can be a strict Constitutionalist and favor Amendment at the same time.

That said, this is a terrible idea. I don't believe it will go anywhere, and I think they don't believe it, either. Election time is coming up and they're angling for votes from the bigots in their constituencies.

[kctim]

4. Idiots

Complain about those perverting and destroying the 2nd Amendment and then turn around and try to do the same thing to the 14th.

[derby378]

5. They should try reading or watching STARSHIP TROOPERS...

...and see if they still think birthright citizenship is such a bad idea.

Not that there isn't a certain appeal to the idea of earning citizenship - it prods the individual into taking a greater interest in the workings of our government. But then again, there's that pesky notion about all men being "created equal" and all that.

[iamjoy]

9. Yeah, Except in Starship Troopers

wasn't it only members of the military/veterans who could be citizens? And didn't Sargeant Zim make "Gunny" Hartman (Full Metal Jacket) look like a nice guy?

of course, haven't some Republicans suggested some kind of "test" to make sure people are smart or informed enough to vote?

[derby378]

12. In ST, citizenship requires two years of Federal service

For the most part, that means military personnel, although volunteering as a medical guinea pig will also earn you citizenship.

[Posteritatis]

15. There were various other venues that worked too

I seem to recall some pretty mundane things qualifying, though there was a (literal) fight involving some merchant mariners who couldn't qualify.

Not, of course, that that was at all a pleasant setting in any case.

[abelenkpe]

6. Wait

Does this mean if someone immigrated from say Ireland and raised a family here that their kids would no longer be citizens?

[damntexdem]

7. No, they say they want to. But they know they won't get two-thirds votes.

Nor ratification by 38 states even if they could get the votes.

[Hello_Kitty]

16. Can't they go the judicial route via those activist judges on SCOTUS?

They had them reinterpret the 2nd Amendment recently so why not the 14th?

[BlueIdaho]

8. They don' t give a shit.

Just one more hot button to pump up the old white fear driven voters.

Abortion

Immigration

Terrorism

Racism

Taxes

Jingoism

They had eight fucking years under W to do something about these issues - but they really don't want anything to change. If they fix anything, they lose a tool to control fear bas voters.

Same old shit different decade.


Edit = typo

[Johonny]

11. are we all going to have to prove all are ancestors were here legally

and is that possible. Or is one of those Republican ideas that sounds good only if you lost your ability to think at all.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Republicans move to block citizenship for natural born citizens.

Today it's those with parents who aren't legal residents or citizens. Who's next?

[Hello_Kitty]

17. Parents with criminal records? Unpaid taxes or parking tickets? Overdue library books? eom

[Gormy Cuss]

18. Overdue library books -- those scofflaws.

Seriously though, I wouldn't put it past some conservatives to think denying citizenship based on parents' criminal records is beyond consideration. They'd just haul out stats about the cycle of poverty and associated criminality to justify it.