http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/112403-immigration-prompts-senate-to-square-off-on-14th-amendmentSenate Democrats pushed back Tuesday against Republican demands to change a part of the 14th Amendment that grants U.S. citizenship by birthright to children of illegal immigrants. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and GOP Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) have called for hearings on the amendment, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has called for elimination of the provision.
Democrats say the calls are merely election-year politics that shamefully target children.
“It’s outrageous,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). “To target children on this makes no sense. It’s the Constitution. It’s what we’ve done our entire lives. It’s all about politics and Republicans trying to gin up their base. It’s one of those distractions that just puzzles me.”
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said a change would introduce a dangerous precedent of tying citizenship to political beliefs. “We ought to leave the 14th Amendment alone. It allows for citizenship that’s not based on political considerations,” he said. “Once you introduce political considerations, it degrades citizenship. If you’re born here, you’re a citizen. Period. No tests, no profiling, nothing else.”
The idea also has traction among House Republicans, where Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) is leading the drive for the Birthright Citizenship Act, which would deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants by statute instead of repealing the amendment. The legislation has 93 co-sponsors, including prominent members such as Reps. Lamar Smith (R-Texas.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.).
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I checked on the Birthright Citizenship Act. It does have 93 sponsors - 92 repubs and 1 Democrat (Gene Taylor - MS).
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