Coalition: Amendment is misused

Coalition: Amendment is misused
Chris Zavadil/Fremont Tribune Fremonttribune.com
Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 11:15 am

State Sen. Charlie Janssen and the State Legislators for Legal Immigration coalition announced today the formation of a nationwide task force that will develop model state legislation aimed at what they call "anchor babies."

A news release from the coalition said the model legislation is intended to "eliminate the misapplication of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as it has been utilized to secure citizenship for the children of illegal aliens and their families."

The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to persons born or naturalized in the United States.

The coalition maintains that the amendment provides incentive for aliens to illegally cross into the United States to give birth, and use their children to secure illegal benefits, residency and American jobs.

"The misapplication of the 14th Amendment has led to serious economic and social breakdowns in our country," Janssen said. "By allowing this, we are encouraging illegal activity and putting the lives of mothers and their unborn children at risk.

"At the same time," he continued, "we are unfairly putting a financial hardship on taxpayers by forcing them to finance medical care and education for people who have shown unwillingness to follow our laws."

The mission of the task force "is to deliver a comprehensive state resolution that all 50 state legislatures can use to address the misapplication of the 14th Amendment, which has created the anchor baby status," the news released said.

"Anchor babies are one of the principal reasons that illegals are crossing and costing American taxpayers $113 billion annually, or nearly $1,117 yearly per individual taxpayer," said State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, the Pennsylvania Republican who founded SLLI in May 2007.

Janssen said the coalition is a sounding board where he can compare notes with lawmakers from other states on immigration issues.

"We all want to make sure we're on somewhat the same page when we come together on these types of issues, and that's really what the task force is for," Janssen said. "It's really sharing a lot of information back and forth among legislators. Many times, via phone or e-mail, I'll visit with a network of state leaders that are on top of this issue."

The coalition is working to demand "full cooperation among our federal, state and local governments in eliminating all economic attractions and incentives (including, but not limited to public benefits, welfare, education and employment opportunities) for illegal aliens, as well as securing our borders against unlawful invasion," according to the mission statement on the coalition's website.

Janssen said its results are already showing up across the country.

"You're seeing certain states that are trying to stand up for states' rights and this isn't just an illegal immigration issue," he said. "Even getting past the 14th Amendment, this goes back to the basic rights of states, by the people, for the people. And the federal government keeps forgetting that it's really the states that are here to govern."

Janssen said he plans to introduce legislation dealing with illegal immigration, as he has in the past.

He and 14 other state senators introduced LB 1001 on Jan. 20, seeking to repeal "The Dream Act," which provides a child who meets certain criteria but is not a legal resident to receive in-state tuition rates.

He also introduced LR 520, calling for a study of the impact illegal immigration has on the state budget.

"Even before this last year I was putting together legislation," Janssen said. "I've introduced legislation dealing with illegal immigration before.

"I have spoken with senators from other states and gotten some of their ideas on legislation I'm going to run, but that's common with most every bill, you look at what other states have done," he said.


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