The recent Supreme Court decision upholding birthright citizenship as it is framed in the 14th Amendment is a plain bad idea. I know the majority opinion was based on a strict interpretation of the 1868 amendment, which says, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside.” In 1868 there were not millions of unskilled criminals from all over the world breaking across our southern border, ignoring our sovereignty and laws.
The 14th Amendment was meant for the children of former slaves, whose parents did not break into our country illegally. For the children of illegal immigrants, “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” implies full political allegiance, which foreign nationals cannot claim while illegally residing in the U.S.
Birthright citizenship is a magnet for unlawful entry and birth tourism, which is a booming industry in countries like South Korea, China and Mexico. Wealthy Chinese pay $15,000 to have a baby born in the U.S., a genuine bargain when you consider the benefits U.S. citizenship bestows over the life of that child. When that child turns 21, he can bring over family members, which begins the insidious process of chain migration. One anchor child can literally bring in dozens of family members who are not legal and a vast drain of U.S. resources. Think about it: There are millions of poor people in poor countries around the world who are a plane ride away from the benefits of U.S. citizenship. That was not possible in 1868.
A child born to an illegal immigrant in the U.S. has the right to vote and run for office, can live and work in the U.S., has a U.S. passport, is eligible for federal jobs and benefits, is eligible for Medicaid, and, when 21, can begin the process of chain migration. All of that because his/her parent was a criminal and didn’t respect the sovereignty of our country.
Larry Moore
Valencia
