Sorry for the flippant title "Oops, I did it again," but SOME (not all) of the people arguing these issues are acting like teenage pop singers. My sarcastic streak wins again.
My sources on this story aren't as good as most as it seems like the major media hasn't quite picked up this story yet. I've seen in mentioned in a couple of soundbites on Fox and CNN, but can't find an actual article on either site.
Arizona Senator Pearce is "weighing legislation" (Fischer) that will state that any children born in Arizona will not be issued an Arizona birth certificate, and hence U.S. citizenship, unless one of the parents can prove that they are in the country legally. This proposed law has widespread approval in Arizona (Tapscott, UPI) by an almost two to one margin, with 64 percent approving and 26 percent opposing.
This, of course, seems to fly in the face of the 14th amendment, which says "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."
But, as with all constitutional arguments, there is always debate. If their parents are here illegally, they're not following the "jurisdiction thereof", which means that if the parents WERE following the law, the child wouldn't have been born in the U.S. And if the child is automatically a U.S. citizen, the child (and its guardians) are required to follow the law. So, at the time the child became a citizen, if the parents would be required to leave the country....with the child.
I'm not even going to take a side on this one. But, as always, dear readers, what do you think?
Would this law, if passed by Arizona, be legal?
Even if it is legal, is it morally correct?
Which side, or both, or neither, are you on?
Sources:
Fischer, Howard. (2010, July 5). "Focal Point of Immigration Now on Children." YumaSun.com. Link to article.
Tapscott, Mark. (2010, July 5). "Most Arizonans Support Law Denying Birth Certificates to Children Born Here to Illegal Immigrants." The Examiner, WashingtonExaminer.com. Link to article.
United Press International. (2010, July 5). "Citizenship for Immigrant Babies Opposed." UPI.com. Link to article.
My sources on this story aren't as good as most as it seems like the major media hasn't quite picked up this story yet. I've seen in mentioned in a couple of soundbites on Fox and CNN, but can't find an actual article on either site.
Arizona Senator Pearce is "weighing legislation" (Fischer) that will state that any children born in Arizona will not be issued an Arizona birth certificate, and hence U.S. citizenship, unless one of the parents can prove that they are in the country legally. This proposed law has widespread approval in Arizona (Tapscott, UPI) by an almost two to one margin, with 64 percent approving and 26 percent opposing.
This, of course, seems to fly in the face of the 14th amendment, which says "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."
But, as with all constitutional arguments, there is always debate. If their parents are here illegally, they're not following the "jurisdiction thereof", which means that if the parents WERE following the law, the child wouldn't have been born in the U.S. And if the child is automatically a U.S. citizen, the child (and its guardians) are required to follow the law. So, at the time the child became a citizen, if the parents would be required to leave the country....with the child.
I'm not even going to take a side on this one. But, as always, dear readers, what do you think?
Would this law, if passed by Arizona, be legal?
Even if it is legal, is it morally correct?
Which side, or both, or neither, are you on?
Sources:
Fischer, Howard. (2010, July 5). "Focal Point of Immigration Now on Children." YumaSun.com. Link to article.
Tapscott, Mark. (2010, July 5). "Most Arizonans Support Law Denying Birth Certificates to Children Born Here to Illegal Immigrants." The Examiner, WashingtonExaminer.com. Link to article.
United Press International. (2010, July 5). "Citizenship for Immigrant Babies Opposed." UPI.com. Link to article.
