Thread: Fred Thompson speaks out on immigration issues

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OrlandoSentinel.com
Fred Thompson speaks out on immigration issues
Jim Stratton

Sentinel Staff Writer

7:19 PM EDT, September 14, 2007

On his campaign swing through Florida, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson has hammered away illegal immigration, saying that America must secure its borders to ensure national security.

Friday, he went a step further.

Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, said it might be time to reconsider the country's long-standing practice -- one prescribed by the Constitution -- of granting citizenship to any child born on U.S. soil.

"That law was created in another time and place for valid reasons," Thompson said during a campaign stop here. "It probably needs to be revisited."

The granting of citizenship to anyone born in the United States is included in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

It says, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside."

The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed that in an 1898 court decision involving a Chinese man born in the U.S. to parents who were not citizens.

Since then, anyone born in the U.S. has been automatically granted citizenship apart from rare exceptions involving the children of foreign diplomats.

Friday, Thompson -- for the second day in a row -- said he was willing to reconsider that.

"The question is whether or not it would require a constitutional amendment or change in law," he said. He also said he wasn't sure such a provision would ever pass.

"That one, I'm not sure about."

Thompson said that the issue of automatic citizenship for children of illegal immigrants is not his primary concern.

"It's not their fault," he said. "They don't determine where they're born."

A bigger problem, he said, was so-called "chain migration" -- the practice of giving preferential treatment to the immediate family members of children who are born here.

Thompson said under current law, those children can "grow up and be used as anchors to bring in other people." He said he was "dead set" against that.

Thompson's willingness to entertain the idea of withholding citizenship for children born here illustrates how important the immigration issue has become to Republican presidential candidates.

All have taken a hard line against illegal immigration but as of Friday no other contender has gone as far as Thompson

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""The question is whether or not it would require a constitutional amendment or change in law," he said. He also said he wasn't sure such a provision would ever pass."

It can also be changed by decision of THE SUPREME COURT.

I also notice, he doesn't mention what to do with the illegals. A couple of months ago he was for "bringing these poor folks out of the shadows." And we all know what that means!!!!

All [Republican presidential candidates] have taken a hard line against illegal immigration but as of Friday no other contender has gone as far as Thompson.

No, Mr. Reporter, you're wrong. Take off your blinders, go back to J-school, and look at Tancredo and Hunter. Heck, even Romney has said recently he doesn't support amnesty for illegals in the country, but rather a policy of attrition through enforcement -- (unlike Thompson who has said he supports amnesty for illegals in the country).

But I am pleased Thomspon is at least speaking against chain migration and anchor babies.

He is not to be trusted unless he puts it in writing and signs it in front of a notary

might be, could be ,ought a be, sounds Like Lip service to be to me

I cant trust him

Originally Posted by USPatriot

He is not to be trusted unless he puts it in writing and signs it in front of a notary

See now thats Great America thinking at its best if they say some promise while they run they should be fired if they dont do it ... And we have it in writing

"It's not their fault," he said. "They don't determine where they're born."

It's not the fault of the American people either, but yet we are the ones footing the bill of anchor babies! So how fair to the taxpayer is that CFR BOY!?!?!?!

Originally Posted by sippy

"It's not their fault," he said. "They don't determine where they're born."

It's not the fault of the American people either, but yet we are the ones footing the bill of anchor babies! So how fair to the taxpayer is that CFR BOY!?!?!?!

That's right sippy. He is just another flip-flopping CFR jerk.

He said" the issue of automatic citizenship for children of illegal immigrants is not his primary concern."

If you think about it his is right by not making that an upfront issue. After all if we stop them and keep them out in the first place, then they can't drop the kid here?

And this one is far more of problem "A bigger problem, he said, was so-called "chain migration" -- the practice of giving preferential treatment to the immediate family members of children who are born here."

A kid being born here is just one at time, but Chain migation can equal dozens at one time.

No I'm not soft on anchor babies, that can and should be addressed as well, but go to the big waves before pluging the leaks.