Published: Sept. 8, 2010
Updated: 2:31 p.m.

Report: Illegal population to soar if birthright citizenship repealed

BY CINDY CARCAMO
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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As the debate heats up over automatic citizenship for those born in the U.S., a report released Wednesday states that doing away with birthright citizenship would spark a rise in the population of those who are in the country illegally.

Members of the anti-illegal immigration movement contend that ending birthright citizenship for the children of those in the country illegally would reduce illegal immigration to the United States or keep foreigners from overstaying their visas.

However, the report"The Demographic Impact of Repealing Birthright Citizenship" stat es that eliminating birthright citizenship would not shrink the unauthorized population but likely expand it by 5 million people in the next decade.
The report was co-authored by Jennifer Van Hook at the Population Research Institute Pennsylvania State University and Michael Fix with the Migration Policy Institute, a non-partisan Washington, D.C., think-tank that studies the movement of people worldwide.
To read the report click here.

The report analyzes the House-introduced Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009, which would deny U.S. citizenship to children born to parents who are both in the country without authorization.

While estimates vary, the report states that about 11 million people live in the country illegally, many who have or plan to give birth to U.S.-born children.

"And these children grow up to have children of their own," the report states. "Under a constitutional repeal of the birthright citizenship language of the 14th Amendment or the proposed Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009, these U.S.-born descendents of unauthorized immigrants would be denied legal status in the United States, even though in all likelihood they would be thoroughly American in other respects."

The descendents, the third generation and higher of those children might have no claim to citizenship in the countries of their immigrant ancestors because they and their parents were not born in those countries, the report states.

"In short, the repeal of the 14th Amendment or enactment of the Birthright Citizenship Act would lead to the establishment of a permanent class of unauthorized persons," the report states.

Anti-illegal immigration activists who support ending birthright citizenship argue that unauthorized persons illegally migrate to the United States in order to give birth to children who can sponsor them for admission when the child becomes an adult.

Much of the debate over birthright citizenship has turned on the meaning and intent of the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause and, specifically, on whether U.S.-born children of unauthorized immigrants are "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States.

Ending birthright citizenship for the children of those in the country illegally by way of a constitutional amendment would require approval by two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures – a tall order.

Though many believe repeal of birthright citizenship for the children of unauthorized immigrants requires a change to the Constitution, others argue that a constitutional amendment isn't needed. Instead, they say Congress could pass legislation, such as last year's introduction of the Birthright Citizenship Act in the House of Representatives.

"This perpetuation of hereditary disadvantage based on the legal status of one's ancestors would be unprecedented in US immigration law," the report states.

Click here to read a story about a local movement to do away with birthright citizenship. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hilt ... ldren.html

Contact the writer: 714-796-7924 or ccarcamo@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/news/citizens ... tates.html