Thread: Should U.S. citizenship be automatic for U.S.-born? POLL

Should U.S. citizenship be automatic for U.S.-born?

On eve of Citizenship Day, both sides of debate make arguments.

By CINDY CARCAMO
The Orange County Register
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The issue of birthright citizenship is reaching a fever pitch, as groups on both sides of the immigration debate battle out the possibility of an immigration overhaul.

On the eve of Citizenship Day, immigration advocates reacted to anti-illegal immigration groups who are attempting to cut off automatic citizenship for children who were born on United States soil.

One such California initiative – created by San Diego resident Ted Hilton – hopes to impose new rules for birth certificates, essentially calling for the state to issue one type of birth certificate to children of U.S. citizens and green card holders and another to children of temporary residents and of those who are here illegally.

"I think the automatic citizenship policy is bankrupting California, and we have to terminate that," Hilton said.

He said he is hoping for the California Taxpayer Protection initiative to make its way onto the ballot in June.

Evelyn Miller, whose Irvine home serves as something of a clearinghouse for incoming petitions from surrounding counties, said she's doing it to stop the "invasion" of people coming to the country illegally. Miller is a member of anti-illegal immigration group California Coalition for Immigration Reform, based in Huntington Beach.

On Wednesday, however, a roundtable of immigration and constitutional scholars who oppose changing citizenship law said the anti-birthright citizenship initiatives wouldn't discourage people from coming to the nation illegally.

"I don't' see how (the initiative) would deter illegal immigration at all. Most people coming here to the United States illegally are for the jobs and to reunite with their families," said Margaret Stock, an attorney who's represented children of military families who were born outside the United States and are trying to fix their status.

Stock, a lieutenant colonel in the Military Police Corps and U.S. Army Reserve, said the "anchor baby" idea is a myth because a child born on U.S. soil can't sponsor his or her parents until he or she becomes 21. And, the process is long, and requirements are strict and challenging to overcome, she added.

"Having a baby here doesn't mean you get to stay here legally," Stock said. "It means that if you're deported, you have to decide to leave your baby behind or take them with you."

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POLL

Birthright citizenship
Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship.

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally.

I don't know.

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Hilton and supporters of the California initiative say it would save the state billions by cutting off the benefit to children who did not qualify for the birth certificate offered to the children of citizens and permanent residents.

Stock, who spoke at the Immigration Policy Center's teleconference alongside other pro-immigration overhaul leaders, said the costs of verifying every single person's citizenship and legal status would prove cost prohibitive to the government and ultimately the taxpayer.

As of Wednesday, it was unclear how many of the more than 400,000 voter signatures have been gathered for Hilton's initiative.

Hilton's group has until mid-November to collect those signatures to put the initiative on the June 2010 ballot. If not, he and his supporters would have to start all over again for the November 2010 ballot.

"I'm just the lieutenant plugging away," said Miller of her role in the initiative.

Contact the writer: 949-553-2906 or ccarcamo@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/immi ... ren-hilton

VOTE at this link:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/immi ... ren-hilton

Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship.
24%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally.
72%

I don't know.
4%

Total Votes: 898

Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship. 23%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally. 73%
I don't know. 4%

Total Votes: 907

Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?
Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship. 23%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally. 73%

I don't know. 4%

Total Votes: 923

Birthright citizenship

Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship.
23%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally.
73%

I don't know.
4%

Total Votes: 971

Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship.
23%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally.
73%

I don't know.
4%

Total Votes: 973

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship.
23%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally.
73%

I don't know.
4%


Total Votes: 1004

Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?

Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship. 23%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally. 73%

I don't know. 4%


Total Votes: 1025

Stock, who spoke at the Immigration Policy Center's teleconference alongside other pro-immigration overhaul leaders, said the costs of verifying every single person's citizenship and legal status would prove cost prohibitive to the government and ultimately the taxpayer.

Yeh riiight, like illegal aliens aren't costing us a prohibitive amount of money now, right? It would cost less to verify everyone's citizenship status and cut off ALL benefits being sucked up by illegals thru their many anchor kids.

Birthright citizenship
Should United States citizenship be automatic for everyone born on U.S. soil?
Yes. It would be too burdensome and costly to have everyone prove their citizenship.
24%

No. We need to cut off the costly benefits to the children of parents who are in the country illegally.
73%

I don't know.
4%


Total Votes: 1020