How come the US constitution contradicts itself?

Question

It says that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

But then, when illegal immigrants try to pursue happiness by coming to the US, you try to stop them.

That doesn't make any sense.

Answer 1

Firstly you are misquoting the Constitution. Secondly, yes, everybody has a right to pursue happiness but not by wrongful means. Aliens come to US through illegal means so they government or the constitution does not provide them the 'rights' given to the legal citizens of USA.

Answer 2

Do you think that it's a contradiction for the government to have the right to limit the number of immigrants we will accept each year?

The illegal aliens that infiltrate this country every year are cowards. If Mexico is so bad, they should be standing up to their government instead of standing up to ours.

There was just a story yesterday about the other side of illegal immigration. Some of these illegal aliens have forged identities that show that they are legal residents. The forged identities are stolen from actual citizens. As such, their credit gets ruined.

A guy they talked about had applied for an FHA loan, but he was denied because he made over $80K/yr. This guy was on Social Security and didn't make nearly that much. As such, this guy was prevented from buying a home. There were other citizens that were denied Medicare and other assistance programs.

These illegal aliens hurt us in many ways. We don't know who they are, so we don't know if they are felons escaping their own countries. They don't pay taxes, which means that we absorb more of the burden for hospitals and schools because they still take advantage of our systems.

If Noah could build a boat big enough to accommodate 2 of every kind of animal, I'm sure we could build a big enough bus...

Answer 3

Those words are in the Declaration of Independence and not in the Constitution itself. The Constitution grants Congress the power to control immigration laws and declares the government is formed for the common good of the country; so there isn't any contradiction.

But for those who believe life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are solely the province of Americans, the Declaration does not limit inalienable rights to Americans.

Answer 4

YOu are twisting words to make a point. Your point is not valid. Also the constitution was written over 200 years ago. Things have changed since then. The founding fathers knew it would which is why they left it open for ammendments. Is also said laws should be obeyed, have illegal aliens obeyed our laws of entering the US> NO. SO they are not entitled to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in the US until they have gone home and re-enterd the US legally.

Answer 5

(1) the people commenting above are wrong, the Constitution does NOT apply only to legal residents -- it (mostly) applies to everyone on American soil.
(2) The Constitution DOES NOT say "Life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" --that's the Declaration of Independence. It's not a legally operative document. The Constitution DOES have language about due process (i.e. that a person's life, liberty, or property shall not be taken without due process of law), but that does not mean that we can't pass laws restricting immigration in the U.S.
(3) Your argument ends in a slippery slope. By your logic, anytime anyone would try to "pursue happiness," it would be unconstitutional for the government to stop them. So if a pedophile was "pursuing happiness" by sleeping with (consensually) underage girls, the government couldn't ban that. If a person was trying to "pursue happiness" by dropping acid, or abusing prescription medication, the government couldn't band that. If someone was "pursuing happiness" by stealing junk out of Brangelina's house, the government couldn't ban that.

Jefferson's idea of the "pursuit of happiness" actually comes from Locke's idea that every (man) had a "natural right" to life, liberty (i.e. freedom and self-determination), and property. "Pursuit of happiness" was substituted in the Declaration of Independence because not all people in the U.S. had a right to own property.

Answer 6

I can understand people, even illegal immigrants, wanting the freedoms outlined in the U.S. Constitution, and I can understand Mexican citizens wanting to enter the US to better their lives. The issue is not immigrants; it is illegal immigrants. The US makes it possible for people entering this country to obtain VISAs and eventually citizenship. There are legal ways to enter the US and have those freedoms that are so wonderful. Illegal immigrants should not, in my opinion, receive the same benefits as people who have entered the country in the appropriate, legally mandated ways.

Answer 7

And purse happieness you mean enter the country illegally? As in not a citizen to the country? The US constitution does not apply to illegal aliens. They have no rights! Ask mexico what there rights are, if they are caught they have the right to remain silent until they are released back to Mexico.

Answer 8

You're question doesn't make sense.
Why should America be the only country to allow illegal immigration? America is the victim because of this.
No countries including America never allowed illegal immigration even back then.
Why now?
Why only America?
That's not fair.

Answer 9

"We the People" means citizens of the United States, not any damnfoolish person coming into our country. Go through the legal routes, or force Mexico to allow "illegal immigrants" from their southern border in as well..

Answer 10

You dont make sense you retard beaner. It only applies to citizens. You will never become citizen because you and youre 11 kids will live in a 1001 sq. foot apt. and you will flip burgers at McDonalds! You void youre right to happieness when you break the law.