Thread: 'Anchor Babies' Measure to be Introduced

'Anchor Babies' Measure to be Introduced

Proposal would deny automatic citizenship

Updated: Thursday, 27 Jan 2011, 5:15 PM MST
Published : Thursday, 27 Jan 2011, 6:54 AM MST

PHOENIX - Arizona lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday that would deny citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens.

It would discourage illegals from coming to this country and having children, known as "anchor babies."

The bill would deny these children citizenship in the state of Arizona.

It's largely a symbolic move at this point. Backers hope to get enough states to pass similar laws to get the United States Supreme Court to change its interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The 14th Amendment says all persons born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are American citizens, execept for the children of foreign diplomats.

The bill's backers say there's a loophole here granting the children of illegal immigrants U.S. citizenship and that has to stop.

Opponents say instead of messing with the Constitution, it would be better for Congress to deal with illegal immigration. They add the 14th Amendment's meaning is clear and it has been upheld a number of times by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Opponents argue that that the bill is obviously unconstitutional and would be rejected by the courts - a slam dunk rejection.

But supporters disagree and the bill will officially begin its journey through the legislative process at the state capitol.

From both sides:

"The 14th Amendment gave citizenship to slaves or former slaves ruled by the Dred Scott case to not be citizens..it did not address the issue of illegal aliens giving birth in the United States," said Sen. Ron Gould, a Lake Havasu City Republican.

Civil rights attorney Stephen Montoya says, "Well, with all due respect to the Senator, he needs to read the language of the Constitution. The language of the Constitution is bigger than its purpose."

At demonstration outside the state capitol Thursday morning, opponents said the 14th Amendment applies to everyone and interestingly, was also designed to guarantee citizenship to white babies born to northerners who moved into confederate states after the civil war.

Two birthright citizenship bills will be submitted: one in the state House and one in the state Senate.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/im ... d-01272011

Reading up on this, if the 14th amendment was for illegals too, then why were the native american tribes denied citizenship under the 14th? Congress had to enact legislation years later to grant tribes automatic US citizenship. One more thing, the reason given as to why the tribes did not get citizen ship under the 14th was because the tribes were not fully under the Jurisdiction of the US. They were under the Jurisdiction of their own tribal counsels.