Thread: Tx- Berman: 14th Amendment does not "apply to foreigner

February 23, 2009

Berman: 14th Amendment does not "apply to foreigners."

State Rep. Leo Berman ramped up his support today for a proposal that would challenge the concept of birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants with the hopes that passage of such a measure would trigger a federal lawsuit.

Speaking to a group of about 20 members of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps., Berman said if his proposal to prohibit automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants passes it would undoubtedly spark a court fight that he hopes lands in the U.S. Supreme Court.

"That's exactly what we're looking for," said Berman, R-Tyler. "We want to be sued into federal court where our attorney general can take this all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court."

Berman's argument is based on the notion that the 14th Amendment, which says all persons born in the U.S. shall be granted citizenship, does not "apply to foreigners."

"We hope that at some point and time some judge will say 'you're absolutely right. It doesn't apply to illegal aliens,'" Berman said.

So far, Berman has helped author at least eight bills aimed at illegal immigrants, including a measure that would create an 8 percent tax on the roughly $6 billion wired from Texas to Mexico, Central and South America. Berman is proposing that the money generated by the tax be earmarked toward border security and hospitals.

He's also filed a bill that would make English the official language of Texas and one that requires all illegal immigrants in Texas to move to "sanctuary cities," a term used for municipalities that do not target illegal immigrants.

Most recently, Berman made headlines for a heated exchange over his sanctuary city proposal, in which he told a Chinese-American lawyer to "go home" and "kiss his (expletive)" after a panel discussion on immigration.

At Monday's press conference on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol, Berman also made time to attack the federal government for what he characterized as their failure to protect Texans from illegal immigration.

"From Washington to Texas most representatives, most elected officials have their heads in the sand," he said. "They're saying this is a job the United States Congress has to do. Now you tell me what the United States Congress has done to protect Texans over the last five years, because they've done absolutely nothing."

http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/ar ... ant_1.html

Censure State Rep Leo Berman
Put forth on February 23, 2009 by XicanoPwr
Posted in Immigration, Nativism, Prejudices, Xenophobia


Netroots activists from across Texas have joined forces to launch CensureLeo.com, urging the Texas House of Representatives to censure State Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler) for his conduct following an immigration summit last week.

CensureLeo.com urges Texans to contact their State Representative, House Speaker Joe Straus, and House GOP Caucus Chair Larry Taylor, urging them to support a resolution of censure condemning Berman’s actions.

On Thursday, February 18, 2009, following a panel discussion sponsored by Texas Employers for Immigration Reform, Rep. Berman was engaged in a heated verbal conflict with Harry Joe, an immigration lawyer from Dallas of Chinese American descent.

The story made headlines across Texas after the Dallas Morning News first broke the story and was later picked up by the Associated Press, which reported the incident on newspaper websites across the nation.

Berman was invited to participate in a panel discussion to speak about HB254 - a bill, he authored requiring undocumented immigrants to relocate to “sanctuary cities.â€

He's also filed a bill that would make English the official language of Texas and one that requires all illegal immigrants in Texas to move to "sanctuary cities," a term used for municipalities that do not target illegal immigrants

I love it....wouldn't they deserve it!!!

This guy has GREAT ideas

Go Mr. Berman! This birthright citizenship has to be resolved in court once and for all time. I am so sick of paying for anchor babies getting public services, while illegal mom and dad are working with stolen IDs and driving without licenses. I also wonder why so many that barely speak English can afford Cadillac Escalades and Mercedes? I wonder if they work hard at jobs they qualify for or have a main business under the radar that is not allowed by law?

xenophobic....THey constantly use this, which I don't think they know what it means, as some kind of "bad" thing. I don't think we have "irrational" fears of another group. They are very RATIONAL!

Berman's idea really does not make much sense. State governments don't have any control over the issue of birthright citizenship. If you want to stop it the law must be made at the Federal level. Congress could pass a law that says the following: No person born inside or outside the U S who has one parent who is in the U S illegally at the time of birth or who has ever been in the U S illegall prior to the time of birth shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the U S for the purpose of citizenship. This law is exempt from judicial review.

Wooooo Hooooo now with politicians like State Rep Leo Berman ... I could move to that state and feel like I am being represented... here in Florida.. the only ones being represented are Illegals and Cubans under the wet foot dry foot program

This place aint for me

That is just a list of nobody that matters.

Censured for what? A heated conversation after a forum, taken out of context by one eves dropping reporter. Those bloggers are really out of touch, if they think Berman is the first Texas politician to say "kiss my ass" or "go home". In fact, I can guarantee that worse has been said on the House floor and in the halls of the capitol building. It's called freedom of speech.

Berman has already clarified what he said was not racist and "go home" ment back to Dallas. Yet they continue to spin.

Since bloggers are not journalists, they don't write under the same ethical code of conduct nor practice absence of malice. The story can be accurately told but the way it is portrayed may not be truthful and therefore may do harm.

Dixie

Dixie said :



"Since bloggers are not journalists, they don't write under the same ethical code of conduct nor practice absence of malice. The story can be accurately told but the way it is portrayed may not be truthful and therefore may do harm"


Dixie , I think these traits are far and few in between in the MSM today ,
this blog did leave out the fact that the " Santuary City`s " bill has already
been pulled from the session , me thinks Mr. Berman was having a bit of fun with that one .

FedUpinFarmersBranch