Should USA change the 14th amendment and grant only babies born to legal immigrants/US citizens citizenship?

Question

There may be concern that illegal immigrants are having babies in the US knowing that their baby will be granted automatic citizenship (also know as anchor babies). Do you think that putting pressure on congress to change this amendment to allow automatic citizenship only for legal immigrants or citizens is a good idea and will help alleviate the burden on our schools, healthcare, etc. or is ita "non-issue?

Answer 1

I definitely feel that this needs to be addressed. The 14th amendment was set in place to ensure that former slaves couldn't be striped of their citizenship rights.

Well, we're past that point of our history and can see that a wave of people entering our country illegally are using this "loophole" to citizenship to be allowed to stay. Once they bear a US citizen, it's harder to split up the family, because the US citizen cannot be deported.

This amendment ran it's course and needs to be changed. Only children born to 2 legal citizens on US soil or abroad should be granted automatic citizenship.

Answer 2

I think we should think long and hard before tinkering with the Constitution. The Supreme Court has never directly held on whether the 'citizenship by birth' part of the 14th Amendment means that citizenship is granted even where the presence of the child's pregnant mother would be barred by law.

However, I would address immigration rules to say that the right of 'family reunification' which gives a citizen the ability to bring in family including parents should not apply to anyone who did not have at least one unconditional permanent resident parent or citizen parent at the time of their birth.

That avoids the constitutional issue and addresses the 'gaming' with our laws.

Answer 3

YES Must be revoke , 14th amendement that was silver war for black peoples because we push to US be slave and their kids automatic be citizen,But all illegal they valounter come here, illegals just abuse our law.

Anchor babies make our healtcare going UP cost for hospital ,they come cross the border was pregnant almost 9 months , and just come here to ER to get free healtcare,more anchor babies more benefits from americans tax payer more big problem for us.

Latino always say white cant making babies....thats why they will take over with anchor babies. this country will going down to the tubes.


For 1 anchor babies cost $ 7000 a year in school and cost $ 9000 for hospitals, I dont mind we pay for citizen but this illegals just take ADVANTAGE.....US law, they are really bad peoples

No Birthright Citizenship. Illegals flood to the U.S. simply to have babies—which are then granted citizenship. Changing the current law is certain to curtail the illegal traffic.

WE MUST BE STOP THIS...ENOUGHT IS ENOUGHT, 50 million americans kids no healtcare

Answer 4

I agree, Citizenship should be earned, or at least be of a legal nature. Meaning the parents were legal entrants to the USA.
It's a slight against those who perhaps have waited years to enter the United States.
I can't see how someone, who breaks our law, can be rewarded.
We all know that many Mexican women,. cross the border to have their babies, knowing that once born their children will all have the same right of all legal Citizens of the USA.
There may have been a reason for it before, but with at least twelve million illegals in here already, it's time to put a stop to that. give away.

Answer 5

What If a woman comes to the U.S. as an illegal immigrant, get's pregnant and gives birth to the baby here, but the father is also an illegal immigrant from a different country than the mother? What country does the baby have citizenship to? Would it be up to the parents and what if they wanted to be togethor as a family?

Answer 6

I do not believe that just because a women drops a baby on AMERICAN soil that that child is automatically a U.S. citizen. I have a real problem with letting this continue so that they can get government welfare, food stamps etc. because their baby was born here. They did not pay into our government yet we will be paying for that child for many years to come. This country is built on immigrants from all over. They came here and worked here and made this country great. For people to jump our borders and take from us that doesn't belong to them is wrong. If they want to be citizens, they need to do it the legal way. To answer your question, yes we need to change the laws. They were written long ago and they do not fit today's problems that this country has with illegals.

Answer 7

Maybe just not allow Parents the right to stay just because they had a child here. The child can be welcomed at any age. But parents must go through regular ways. Why reward their bad behavior? And yes some on talks shows admit to having children here just to stay.
Messing with our Constitution would open many doors. And many do not want to do that.
We could add things to qualifying for citizenship not based on can you have children here. How is that fair to older Mexicans who are beyond child bearing?

Answer 8

This is definitely an issue as there are thousands of women each year who come to the US for the express purpose of having their baby here so that they will be US citizens. They often arrive here in the last trimester having had little if any medical care. The hospitals of course must treat them when they present themselves in the emergency room with out regard to their ability to pay. When they can't pay the hospital has to pass that expense along to other paying patients and insurance companies and the taxpayers in general in order to stay in business. We are all paying for these babies to be delivered. The next stop for many of these women is the welfare office where they themselves are not eligible for assistance but their US born children are. This assistance includes but is not limited to cash assistance, food stamps, and totally free full coverage medical care.

Yes, I think it is time for us to make some adjustment to our constitution to address this issue.

Answer 9

Yes. It would stop people pregnant women from coming over here. It makes me really mad. Women come here pregnant so they can stay here. That is no different from
becoming pregnant so your husband will stay or so you can get a check. It is using children, and that is never right. Not to mention, it is incredibly dangerous to cross
to make the trek here. There is often little food or water and it is extremely hot. Coyotes don't care if you are pregnant, if you are deadweight, they will leave you in the desert. Illegals often hop rail cars to go other places. Those railcars get very hot( in the hundreds). There is no water, sanitation. The stress alone could cause a miscarriage. Why would any loving mother submit their unborn child to that so she could stay here? It makes me SICK.

Answer 10

I believe so, to prevent chain immigration. A mother gave birth to a child in the back of an INS van on American soil and now she can come to America and take care of the newborn citizen. Despicable.

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