No citizenship for children born to illegals in the US?

[Indy Coug]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/15/arizona.immigration.children/index.html?hpt=C1

What are the arguments to be made that the proposed legislation is unconstitutional?

[beefytee]

I think this takes a constitutional amendment to be legal.

I think it is a real issue that needs to be addressed.

I don't know if denying these children citizenship is the best course of action.

I think a better approach is to keep illegals out in the first place. I don't know how practical this is though.

[RobinFinderson]

One thing you have got to respect about AZ Republicans -- they stand by their principles even when that means alienating Hispanic voters (one of the fastest growing groups of voters, and one that has traditionally been on the fence between the two parties) throughout the rest of the nation. As a liberal, it warms my heart to see Republicans spend so much political capital on issues like this.

[Indy Coug]

I think this takes a constitutional amendment to be legal.

Why? I'm trying to understand the constitutional arguments for/against this.

[happyone]

If ( and that is a big if ) I understand it correctly, one of the post Civil War ammendments (13, 14, 15) gave citizenship to all people born in the US, or at least it has been interpeted that way.

[beefytee]

Why? I'm trying to understand the constitutional arguments for/against this.

The 14th amendment makes it pretty clear:

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am14

[Indy Coug]

The 14th amendment makes it pretty clear:



http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am14

OK, that both exposes my ignorance and gives a very good answer to my question. Thanks.

[Eddie]

One thing you have got to respect about AZ Republicans -- they stand by their principles even when that means alienating Hispanic voters (one of the fastest growing groups of voters, and one that has traditionally been on the fence between the two parties) throughout the rest of the nation. As a liberal, it warms my heart to see Republicans spend so much political capital on issues like this.

Maybe that was their plan all along?

It seems like we are hearing how Hispanics are more likely to vote Democrat. And now the Arizona lawmakers have come up with this ingenious plan that causes them to remove themselves from the state. So while Republicans aren't exactly increasing the number of votes their side will get, they appear to be reducing the number of votes the Democrats will get.

Ingenious...

[RobinFinderson]

Maybe that was their plan all along?

It seems like we are hearing how Hispanics are more likely to vote Democrat. And now the Arizona lawmakers have come up with this ingenious plan that causes them to remove themselves from the state. So while Republicans aren't exactly increasing the number of votes their side will get, they appear to be reducing the number of votes the Democrats will get.

Ingenious...

I'm always glad to see the opposition prematurely throw in the towel on wooing a potential constituency, especially one that looks like it will outnumber most other minorities in the near future. Thanks GOP!