Call for Special Birth Certificate for Children of Illegal Immigrants
Reported by: Eric Collins
Email: eric.collins@sandiego6.com
Last Update: 4:40 am



"People will get behind this," said Neil Turner, who supports a new ballot initiative that would require illegal immigrants to get a special birth certificate for their American born children.
Those parents also have to provide proof of legal residency before they could receive the birth certificate.

"This will discourage immigration, illegal immigration which I think is a horrendous problem," said Turner.

Turner is a spokesman for San Diego Christians For Secure Borders.

He believes the ballot measure will help alleviate crowded schools and hospitals struggling to provide services to so-called anchor babies.

"It can cost $100,000 just for a preemie baby and for every baby they have anchor or not it costs $25,000," said Turner.

"It's a measure that will not go very far with the voters," said Pedro Rios.

Rios is the director of the San Diego chapter of The American Friends Service Committee.

He says the ballot initiative creates a second class of American citizens.

"Which is a clear violation of the equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution," said Rios.

If the measure passes, he is certain it will be overturned in federal court.

"It's something that doesn't exist in current law. We don't have different citizenship status in the United States."

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