U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, has proposed changing the long-standing federal policy that automatically grants citizenship to any baby born on U.S. soil, a move opposed by immigrant rights advocates.
Supporters of Deal’s proposal say “birthright citizenship” encourages illegal immigration and makes enforcement of immigration laws more difficult. Opponents say the proposed law wouldn’t solve the illegal immigration problem and goes against this country’s traditions of welcoming immigrants.
“This is a sensible, overdue measure that closes a clause that was never meant to be a loophole,” said Bob Dane, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which seeks tighter immigration restrictions.
Under Deal’s proposal, babies born in the U.S. would automatically have citizenship only if at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen or national, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., or actively serving in the U.S. military.
One of my favorite songs is Repatriation.
So what nationality do they become instead if they don’t meet the “criteria”?
Why am I not surprised this came from a white guy?
Ms Wong, It’s not a “white” idea. But if you think that way, you “might” be a racist!
#4 Don,
Well, you don’t see that “idea” coming from anyone not being white ain’t ya?
Another silly idea that comes up every few months from some wack job.
The problem, if you think it is a problem, is with people crossing the BOARDER to enter the United States, Not with people crossing the BIRTH CANAL.
How many countries give citizenship to a child that happens to be born within their borders? I thought this was unique to the USA. I like the idea of requiring at least one parent being a citizen or permanent resident. If you are here under temp visa or illegally, then the baby is a citizen of mother/father country.
I thought this was a bad idea until I read: “a legal permanent resident of the U.S.” This actually kinda makes sense if the purpose is specifically to discourage people from entering the country such that their child may be a U.S. citizen. The problem with encouraging that type of behavior is that people often come across the boarder to have a child with no health care and we all end up footing the bill. The policy seems pretty broad, it seems to only prevent children of illegal immigrants children from gaining citizenship, and why should we reward illegals?
On the other hand, I think this country needs to relax legal immigration pathways. This country is great because of the immigrants, just make sure they pay their share and abide by the law of the land.
This is evil and needs to be stopped. The usa was built on people coming here to have opportunity, not “just our citizens”.
These sort of people really deserve to lose their citizenship for these sorts of ideas.
If this goes through, it won’t be the first. They changed the law in Ireland in 2005, after some high-profile cases where immigrants were using Ireland as a gateway to the EU, entering the country with the aim of giving birth here – since parents obviously must stay with their children. This leads me to the conclusion that this was one of the last countries in the EU to close that entry route. The government web page on this starts with “it’s complicated”, and they aren’t kidding.
Even though I’m a lib, I get this.
I’ve lived in several other countries and most don’t automatically grant citizenship to every baby born there. (I didn’t keep track but I don’t think any did.)
The “anchor baby” (aka Bobby Jindal baby) thing gets abused.
Just as I was reading this iTunes shuffled on Joan Baez sying this Phil Ochs song and I thought it an appropriate response for Nathan Deal proposal.
There But For Fortune
Show me a prison, show me a jail
Show me a pris’ner whose face has grown pale
And I’ll show you a young man
With many reasons why
There but for fortune, go you or I
Show me an alley, show me a train
Show me a hobo who sleeps out in the rain
And I’ll show you a young man
With many reasons why
There but for fortune, go you or I
Show me the whiskey stains on the floor
Show me a drunk as he stumbles out the door
And I’ll show you a young man
With many reasons why
There but for fortune, go you or I
Show me a country where the bombs had to fall
Show me the ruins of buildings so tall
And I’ll show you a young land
With many reasons why
There but for fortune, go you or I
You or I
#9 Jim:
“The usa was built on people coming here to have opportunity, not “just our citizens”.”
Not really.
The Founders weren’t all that into open borders, and for at least a hundred years there was almost no immigration to the United States.
We reserve the right to open and close the borders at will. We have no historical obligation to accept all immigrants, all the time.
I’d like to see the borders opening and closing in response to unemployment rates. When there are people out of work, close the borders; when we need the labor, open them up.
Birthright citizenship is a problem because of our welfare system. Get rid of welfare, and people wouldn’t be as pissed off about the immigrants.
#3 Angel H. Wong:
“Why am I not surprised this came from a white guy?”
Why am I not surprised this came from someone who isn’t white?
If you come here illegally, you have no rights. Same for all ancestors from Europe, Asia and the Middle Easr. Why must we keep making exceptions to pacify the illegal immigrant community?
We are still the most liberal country accepting people willing to go through the legal process. Just try to become a legally equal citizen in other countries. Many you will forever be a “second class”.
We are not Japan and other similar countries. Yet those of us who support following ALL laws not just ones selectively are perpetually labeled as heartless and racist.
#9, what the hell are you ranting about Jim? The 14th Amendment was specifically aimed at granting citizenship to former slaves and to force the states to also recognize that citizenship; not to allow foreign nationals a means to circumvent U.S. immigration policy and law.
Does that mean that everybody in USA need to retake the Citizenship test? If they fail they get ship out to Mexico!
The UK has similar rules. This is a quote from the UK Border Agency:
“Even if you were born in the United Kingdom, you will not be a British citizen if neither of your parents was a British citizen or legally settled here at the time of your birth. This means you are not a British citizen if, at the time of your birth, your parents were in the country temporarily, had stayed on without permission, or had entered the country illegally and had not been given permission to stay here indefinitely.”
So, there is precedent for this kind of rule – it’s to ensure that everyone meets immigration and residence requirements, and doesn’t get around them simply by virtue of giving birth. A quick look around the web shows similar rules elsewhere e.g. South Africa. Australia has a twist: if a child is born in Australia to foreign non-resident parents, but is normally resident in Australia at age 10, the parents’ immigration status is forgiven and citizenship is granted.
Normally I’d be on the side of the “git rid of them damn furriners!!” nut-bars.
But I don’t have a problem with birthright citizenship. I’m in favor of legal immigration.
It’s the illegal kind I have a problem with.
If someone gets into the U.S. legally, they can eventually apply for citizenship. And if they have children while they are here, I have no problem with those children automatically getting citizenship.
The problem I have is with those who have jumped the line and are here illegally. They should be deported. And if they have children, those children should not be automatically granted citizenship.
Actually, having kids of “illegals” getting US citizenship doesn’t bother me at all.
What bugs me is how in many places (at least in Taiwan), you can get a “US birth package”, where you fly in to the US at 7 or 8 months pregnant supposedly to stay for “2 weeks”, stay at a house run by this program, all so you can give birth to a US citizen.
I don’t think citizenship should be “bought” this way.
Everybody is a citizen by birthright and nothing else unless you think you are better because your parents happen to have been citizens?
# 14 brm said
#3 Angel H. Wong:
“Why am I not surprised this came from a white guy?”
Why am I not surprised this came from someone who isn’t white?
————————
#14, what makes you so sure that’s the case?
# 23 Number 6 & # 14 brm & #3 Angel H. Wong
Does it matter who we are? Color and heritage make no difference to the logic of each opinion. It’s all anonymous and should be grounded in fact.
So do you support the law or support changing the law to your opinion? Stick to the facts and back the argument in favor of one or the other.
Isn’t this in the constitution? Good luck changing that dude.
I’d like to see babies born in the US be given the option, at adulthood, of claiming their US citizenship. But until the are adults, they are under the guardianship of their parents, where ever they happen to live.
So if their parents are illegal and get deported, the kids have to go with them. No more of this crap where the parents get to stay because their kid was born here.
#24 Yes, to answer your question, it does matter.
When discussing a change in the law, as opposed to logical interpretation of existing laws, it isn’t just a matter of logic. There are also questions of justice, of fairness … and questions of fears and prejudices … that need to be addressed.
Unfortunately, color and heritage directly relate to life experiences which will affect how you approach these issues. It is, I agree, dangerously close to ad hominum, but it really isn’t. It’s just accepting the sad reality that we do have different lives and that logic only covers a small part of the issue.
Sorry, I really am, because I wish we lived in a world where your comment was true. We don’t, and it isn’t logical to pretend we do.
“Isn’t this in the constitution? Good luck changing that dude.”
^^ #25 for the win
I was born in Ankara, Turkey—on an Air Force base. So should I have been given dual or Turkish citizenship because I was born over there, despite that my parents were both Americans? Of course not! Being born of folks other than Americans on American soil should not grant a baby American citizenship.
I am all for this.
#27:
“Isn’t this in the constitution? Good luck changing that dude.”
It’s been changed before.
Americans always seem to forget that we stole this country away from the natives that originally lived here.