Rather than address the problem of immigration reform and border security, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) would rather override the Constitution and redefine citizenship.
The Civil War era’s 14th Amendment, granting automatic citizenship to any baby born on American soil, is a proud achievement of the Party of Lincoln.
But now House Republicans are talking about abolishing birthright citizenship.
A House Judiciary subcommittee took up the question Wednesday afternoon, prompted by legislation sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) and 22 other lawmakers that, after nearly 150 years, would end automatic citizenship.
The 14th Amendment, King told the panel, “did not contemplate that anyone who would sneak into the United States and have a baby would have automatic citizenship conferred on them.” Added King, “I’d suggest it’s our job here in this Congress to decide who will be citizens, not someone in a foreign country that can sneak into the United States and have a baby and then go home with the birth certificate.”
Mr. King might want to get in touch with Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and ask him for some input. The governor — who’s jonesing to run for president — was born in Baton Rouge six months after his parents arrived from India.
I actually think another bill being proposed by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) is much more appropriate:
Polis’ office issued a press release on Friday announcing the Restrain Steve King from Legislating Act, playing off King’s Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act. Polis’ fake bill would prevent King from “abusing taxpayer dollars by substituting the judgments of the nation’s duly serving judicial branch of government with his own beliefs,” according to the release.
That would get my vote.
I worked in Matamoros, Mexico for 5 years and it was big thing for pregnant women to get across the border and have a child with US citizenship. I worked with one woman who had two childen and she bragged to me that her son had US citizenship and her daughter sadly did not. Another, who worked in the cafeteria? and yes that is a ? some cafeteria, cock roaches all over the place wanted me to take her to the US to have her baby! She got across anyway and I was in no way responsible. It was a big thing when I worked there. I believe it is called juris solis of the soil.