Leading Rep. Senators want review of birthright citizenship

[Anonymous]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100803/ap_on_go_co/us_republicans_birthright_citizenship;_ylt=AmKc8H9EkHp3z4A4B30g8AFH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTNxbXI4bmkyBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwODAzL3VzX3JlcHVibGljYW5zX2JpcnRocmlnaHRfY2l0aXplbnNoaXAEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM0BHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDcmVwdWJsaWNhbnN3

Real change is brewing.

[jsteele]

You may want to review the process of amending the Constitution if you think this type of political theater has anything to do with change. Basically, McConnell and company are counting on your ignorance. Unfortunately, it appears to be working.

[Anonymous]

Its actually one of the better ideas to stem illegal immigration.
If you crossed the border, had a kid, and that kid was not entitled to welfare in any form including a free public education - then what do you as the adult do to get by day to day? No food stamps, no welfare payments, no medicaid. You now actually have to find a way to provide those things.
It would not stop illegal immigration but would make it less attractive and eventually the numbers could begin to drop off.

[Anonymous]

Are we seriously advocating punishing an innocent babe for the circumstances of its birth? I would lay odds that most of the folks who don't want to give citizenship to these babies are the same ones who put up a big fuss trying to keep Elian Gonzalez here, when he just happened to float ashore.

Remember the [i]undocumented Elian[/u]?

[Anonymous]

Good. What is the punishment exactly? In many countries being born on the soil is not automatic birthright. Unclear on the punishment here. How about reforming these loopholes and opening up our legal immigration quotas to allow in many more 'innocent babies' from all around the world?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its actually one of the better ideas to stem illegal immigration.
If you crossed the border, had a kid, and that kid was not entitled to welfare in any form including a free public education - then what do you as the adult do to get by day to day? No food stamps, no welfare payments, no medicaid. You now actually have to find a way to provide those things.
It would not stop illegal immigration but would make it less attractive and eventually the numbers could begin to drop off.

interesting paper for discussion at a conference:
http://www.uniset.ca/naty/maternity/

It has links to various articles and papers. Some are on the issue of "maternity tourism" which occurs in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we seriously advocating punishing an innocent babe for the circumstances of its birth? I would lay odds that most of the folks who don't want to give citizenship to these babies are the same ones who put up a big fuss trying to keep Elian Gonzalez here, when he just happened to float ashore.

Remember the [i]undocumented Elian[/u]?

How is the punishment? The baby will have the nationality of the parent. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. What is the punishment exactly? In many countries being born on the soil is not automatic birthright. Unclear on the punishment here. How about reforming these loopholes and opening up our legal immigration quotas to allow in many more 'innocent babies' from all around the world?

Which countries do you recommend we emulate? All of the European ones except Ireland have birthright citizenship. Ireland changed in 2004 and we still don't even know how that will work out.

[Anonymous]

So how does one earn citizenship then? I was born here. Am I a citizen?

[Anonymous]

In most countries one of the parents needs to be a citizen from that country. That is why my child has dual citizenship. Nothing to do with being born on the 'soil'. It makes sense that you would be a citizen of a country to which your parents have a connection, no? Can you please supply a link to the countries that give automatic citizen to babies born to non-citizens on soil? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Wow, it's good thing the GOP will take over Congress for the first time in 50 years so McConnell and Boehner can repeal Medicare Part D and pass laws to finally clamp down on illegal aliens!

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:You may want to review the process of amending the Constitution if you think this type of political theater has anything to do with change. Basically, McConnell and company are counting on your ignorance. Unfortunately, it appears to be working.

Wow, you've just described conservative electoral strategy since back before the Civil War. Tax cuts for the hucksters; culture war for the rubes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. What is the punishment exactly? In many countries being born on the soil is not automatic birthright. Unclear on the punishment here. How about reforming these loopholes and opening up our legal immigration quotas to allow in many more 'innocent babies' from all around the world?

Which countries do you recommend we emulate? All of the European ones except Ireland have birthright citizenship. Ireland changed in 2004 and we still don't even know how that will work out.

Yeah, it sounds like this person wants us to be like Kuwait. Let's have hundreds of thousands of people living here, working here, and having children and then grandchildren who never get to be citizens and have the rights of citizens but get to stay and work. Not something I'd like to emulate.