Thread: Conversation in Congress Shifts to 'Anchor Babies'

Conversation in Congress Shifts to 'Anchor Babies'

By The Scribe
July 30, 2010 7:06 AM
1 Comment

The term 'anchor baby' brings derision from both sides of the political spectrum for different reasons. It is a slang term for individuals born to aliens who have entered the United States illegally.

Legal eagles differ on whether or not Congress can change the Supreme Court's wrongful interpretation of the 14th Amendment with a law, rather than a constitutional amendment, but there are those lawmakers who want to try.

From Fox News.... http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07 ... mmigrants/

The federal court decision blocking key provisions of Arizona's immigration law from taking effect could light a fire under lawmakers considering an alternative -- and some say radical -- approach to reining in illegal immigration.

Lawmakers since last year have been kicking around a proposal to bar U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants from becoming U.S. citizens. Such a move, which has been ridiculed by legal scholars, would be a drastic reinterpretation of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

Even Lindsey Graham is coming down on the correct side of this attempt.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Fox News after the Arizona ruling came down that "birthright citizenship" needs to be changed.

"I'm a practical guy, but when you go forward I don't want 20 million more (illegal immigrants) 20 years from now," he said. "Let's have a system that doesn't reward people for cheating."

If the anchor baby situation cannot be eliminated by a law passed by Congress it will require a constitutional amendment or a reinterpretation of the original court decision by the Supreme Court, both of which seem unlikely.

Democrats and liberals are naysayers, charging racism, unfairness, etc., but there is no racism or unfairness involved. The desire to change the situation for babies born to illegal aliens doesn't hinge on country of origin, ethnic heritage or skin color. It hinges on the legal status of the child's parents in the United States.

A bill introduced in April 2009 by former Georgia Rep. Nathan Deal called for the law to be changed so that "birthright citizenship" as prescribed in the 14th Amendment only applies if one of the child's parents is a U.S. citizen or national, or a legal immigrant.

That bill has languished in the House since last year, though it currently lists 92 co-sponsors.

This bill has no chance of passing unless Republicans take control of Congress. Even then they would have to hold enough seats to override a certain veto by President Obama. While it may be a pipe dream at present it is time to bring the discussion of anchor babies to the national table.

http://www.gopusa.com/fresh-ink/2010/07 ... babies.php

In Essence we can NOT eliminate Birthright Citizenship unless the Democrats are removed from office?
Food for thought for a lot of voters out there.

Most nations do NOT allow birthright citizenship the way we do.