I think you should first be here legal, gain citizenship, then your children would be cititzens. What do you think?
2006-09-07 04:16:41 · 41 answers · asked by DAVID T 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Under the U.S. Constitution, anyone born in the country is automatically a citizen.
To change that would require a constitutional amendment, which is much more complicated and time consuming than just changing the law.
The bill to amend the constitution first would have to pass both houses of Congress by a two-thirds majority. Next, the amendment would need to be approved by three-fourths of the states, within seven years of passage by Congress.
Over the last several years, constitutional amendments to deny birthright citizenship to children born to illegal aliens have been proposed in Congress, but have not passed.
By the way, in 2004 Ireland amended its constitution to deny birthright citizenship to children unless one of the parents is an Irish citizen or is eligible to become a citizen.
2006-09-07 04:31:55 · answer #1 · answered by johntadams3 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Any child born in the USA is automatically a citizen even though the law actually states that the parents must be under the jurisdiction of the USA. Illegals are not under the jurisdiction of the USA, are they? My opinion is that only a child born to a legal immigrant or US citizen should be a citizen of this country.
2006-09-07 05:04:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are born in this country, you are an American citizen. Many countries do have laws granting citizenship via family lines.
Citizenship via parental (or other family) citizenship would certainly help the issue of illegal immigrants in the country being allowed to stay simply because their child was born here.
And, if an American woman on vacation had her baby in a country with laws allowing for birthright citizenship, the baby WOULD be considered a citizen of that country. It would also be considered a US citizen.
2006-09-07 04:33:56 · answer #3 · answered by Protagonist 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By no means should any child born in this country to illegal immigrants be an automatic ticket to citizenship! I don't expect special treatment when I'm in other countries; it wouldn't make sense. Unfortunately the hispanic lobby is so strong now that our elected representatives are afraid to take a stand against illegal activity.
2006-09-07 04:51:51 · answer #4 · answered by OU812 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not for you to close the doors to others who want to do what somewhere down the road your someone, be it you father, your grandfather or your great great great grandfather did, that is to cross that same border into a what was then a foreign country to them also.
That is the only fair answer to this question.
Let them come in their large numbers. Let them multiply in their multitudes.
You have records from times past. Why not, for starters, check out those records and expell only those who have a criminal record or are not paying taxes. The true cost for sending them home is the cost that you'd save in prison expenses, welfare benefits, e.t.c. at a later date. On the other hand, if you don't have any records for these so called illegal aliens then you don't have a problem because as far as you should be concerned, they are not there. Your worries are imaginary right? RIGHT.
Regards
2006-09-07 05:57:14 · answer #5 · answered by Visanza 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely NOT! This is what is wrong with this country right now. Yes, there are thousands of latinos crossing the border right now but the real problem is the fact they are having even more thousands of babies on the American taxpayer and these babies are instantly citizens that the taxpayer has to take care of for years. This is a crazy system that needs to be changed. Only children born of citizens should be citizens, none other. The Latinos are baby-making machines that come to this country to have their children and secure themselves a ticket to America. It is costing America billions and turning it into a third world country. WHEN DID TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT!
2006-09-07 04:25:11 · answer #6 · answered by loyalrebel 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you are born in the USA you are a citizen, no matter how your parents got here. But it should NOT be a "free pass" for the parents. Temporarily the parents should be able to stay and take care of the baby but then have to gain legal citizenship or go back to their home country.
2006-09-07 04:23:07 · answer #7 · answered by noneofyourbizwax 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
According to the Supreme Court that child is automatically a citizen. I agree with the Supreme Court on this; however, that does not mean the child becomes an anchor for the parents -- only that the child may return to the US after becoming an adult.
2006-09-07 04:22:55 · answer #8 · answered by The Q 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The way our constitution is written, they are automatically citizens. that is why some women are just trying to cross the border then have a baby.
We are about the only country with this type of law. I believe the constitution should be modified to get rid of Anchor Babies. citizenship should follow the parents citizenship.
2006-09-07 04:43:00 · answer #9 · answered by j H 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I oppose 'anchor baby', I think when the kid's old enough to travel, the whole family needs to go home. If they wanna be americans someday, then they can fill out the paperwork and get in line like everyone else.
2006-09-07 06:17:31 · answer #10 · answered by gokart121 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋