2006-12-14 04:41:03 · 8 answers · asked by superstes88 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Some people try to extend constitutional rights to illegal immigrants, but these rights were not meant to apply to illegal immigrants.
It is a very selective interpretation to claim that the 6th or 14th apply to all people.
In the 6th, it does not explicitly include illegal immigrants. Nor does it exclude them. It does say "all", but the rest of the Constitution was never meant to apply to people of foreign nationality, so why would the 6th apply? Perhaps another amendment is needed to clarify this, but I could just as easily read "citizens" into the clause as I could "non-citizens who are here illegally".
In the 14th, it does say "anyone", but it refers to "citizens" twice before it says "anyone". So to interpret that to mean that it applies to illegal immigrants is to ignore the parts about it applying to US citizens.
2006-12-14 06:18:01 · answer #1 · answered by gaskems 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Illegal immigrants do have some rights under the US Constitution. For example, the safeguards it provides to accused criminals are extended by the 6th and 14th amendments, not only to citizens but to all accused.
Sixth Amendment: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
14th Amendment Section 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.
By the 6th amendment specifying "the accused" and the 14th stating "any person" these rights have been extended beyond only citizens.
2006-12-14 13:09:16 · answer #2 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would tend to say they do. The Constitution doesn't say We The Citzens it says We The People
That's why Bush has Guantanamo prisons otherwise the ACLU would be all over the place along with Pro Bono heavy weight attornies.
2006-12-14 12:46:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No citizenship - the constitution doesn't apply. the Bill of Rights does, however and maybe that's what we need to get changed.
2006-12-14 12:57:09 · answer #4 · answered by Spud55 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Constitution only covers citizens or at least it should
2006-12-14 12:43:34 · answer #5 · answered by tchem75 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know. But we should give the a chance.
2006-12-14 13:12:23 · answer #6 · answered by mystique 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Absolutely no rights, they are not citizens of this country.
2006-12-14 12:48:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
N O!!!
2006-12-14 12:42:47 · answer #8 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋