Activists decry plans for ‘second class’ of US citizen

[deminks]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/activists-decry-second-class-citizen/

Human rights activists and some constitutional scholars are denouncing a proposal by a group of state lawmakers to create a "second class" of US citizenship that would apply to children of illegal immigrants.

State Legislators for Legal Immigration -- a group that represents lawmakers from 40 states -- announced this week it will be pushing for a radical redefinition of American citizenship at the state level.

Among the proposals the group is championing is one that would see the creation of a separate class of citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. Under the proposal, a newborn's parents' legal status would have to be determined before a birth certificate is issued. If the child's parents aren't legally in the United States, its birth certificate would be specially marked.

"Although the proposed model statute claims not to confer any particular benefit or penalty on the basis of the different markings, differentiating citizens on the basis of their parents' immigration status would inevitably result in discriminatory treatment," Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

(end snip)

Human Rights Watch Press Release:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/01/06/us-reject-proposal-mark-birth-certificates

[gateley]

1. Oh my god - that's horrifying! nt

[aquart]

2. No way in hell.

This is this year's gay marriage/flag burning amendment.

It is a HUGE amount of sound and fury signifying nothing. Except that the Republicans think that losing the Hispanic and Asian vote won't hurt.

Good luck with that.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. I wonder how the current version of 'Democracy in America'

would read if Alexis de Tocqueville were to write it today?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. K