14th Amendment takes center stage in immigration debate
Look for the national debate over immigration reform to get a lot more heated as we approach the November elections.
Arizona Senator John Kyl said Sunday that Congress should hold hearings on the 14th Amendment, which provides citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States.
Kyl told “Face the Nation”:
“The 14th Amendment [has been] interpreted to provide that if you are born in the United States, you are a citizen no matter what,” Kyl said. “So the question is, if both parents are here illegally, should there be a reward for their illegal behavior?”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) has also suggested a constitutional amendment that would deny “birthright” citizenship.
The president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has called the idea “deplorable”:
“It’s an attempt to turn our back on 150 years of constitutional history and tradition. I think it’s contrary to the values of this country. I think it’s an assault on the recognition that ours is a country of immigrants and always has been. The 14th Amendment is very clear: Anyone who is born here, unless you are the child of a diplomat, is a United States citizen. That has led to great success. It’s part of what has made this nation the great nation that it is in 2010,” said Thomas Saenz.
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