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14 states may pass legislation challenging “birthright citizenship”

January 3, 2011

  The 14th amendment to the constitution states that “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.” Over the years this clause in the constitution has been interpreted to mean that children of illegal aliens who were born in this country are considered citizens–these children are otherwise known as anchor babies because when illegal aliens have children in this country they have been able to use it to guarantee that they can stay in the country.

  But the 14th amendment in its original intent had nothing to do with the children of illegal aliens–in fact the 14th amendment had a very narrow application as the original intent of the 14th amendment was to guarantee after the Civil War that former slaves and their children were granted citizenship. The authors of the 14th amendment could not possibly have foreseen the radical application that this amendment would lead to in regards to the children of illegal aliens.

  States are now beginning to line up to challenge the “birthright citizenship” clause in the 14th amendment and appear ready to introduce legislation targeting anchor babiesand I am proud to say that my state (New Hampshire) is one of those states. As an originalist and a states’ rights advocate I think that it is well beyond time for the states to start reaffirming their 10th amendment rights, and this is a great place to start.

  We have already seen states begin to push back against the Obama regime’s unprecedented expansion of the federal government–from Arizona to Texas to Virginia and beyond–on issues of immigration to the environment, and healthcare reform, and we have already seen that the Obama regime will challenge the different states and their sovereignty by suing them to ensure that their federal power grab will be upheld. 

  More and more states are finally beginning to push back against the Obama regime and reassert their rights and while any legislation which is passed by the different states will be challenged in court by the Obama regime, this is a battle that must be fought because the authors of the constitution went out of their way to guarantee that the federal government would not encroach on the rights of the states. But that is exactly what is happening, and although this isn’t something which is isolated to the Obama regime–it has been happening for many years–the Obama regime has accelerated this process to unprecedented levels and the states have finally had enough.

  With all of the pending legislation and with the lawsuits that are sure to follow it looks exceedingly likely that the Obama regime’s agenda could be paralyzed by lawsuits moving forward, and anything that can stall Barack Obama’s agenda–which is anti-constitutional–has to be considered a step in the right direction.

  The left may try to claim that all we are doing is looking backwards with these manuevers instead of looking forward to solve the issues now facing the country, but when the constitution and our form of government is on the line there is nothing more important than looking backwards to the constitution for our inspiration–in fact, it is quite necessary, because there is nothing more important moving forward then ensuring that our constitution remain intact.

  I would argue that we are not looking backward at all–we are looking inward. We are looking in to the heart and soul of America and trying to return her to the basic tenets that she was founded on.

19 Comments leave one →
  1. Jon C. Randall's avatar
    January 3, 2011 11:54 pm

    I have to agree with you here Steve. I looked up the 14th Admentment, and did NOT find anywhere about where these characters got the idea about an “anchor baby.” Looking at that admentment yourself puts it into perspective…………..and I learned a valuable lesson, don’t let anyone else steer the direction of thought, but look at it yourself. No “anchor babies” in the 14th Amendment, and I hope the states get it straightened out.

    Jon

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    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      January 4, 2011 6:52 am

      It will be up to the states because the courts have already ruled on this, we are probably going to have to re-amend the constitution to get this taken care of, and I am not sure that will ever happen.

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      • Jon C. Randall's avatar
        January 4, 2011 6:56 am

        It would help if I learned how to spell amendment, that would be a good start?

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      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        January 4, 2011 6:59 am

        I didn’t even notice that until you mentioned it. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.

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  2. Jon C. Randall's avatar
    January 3, 2011 11:56 pm

    Post

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  3. LD Jackson's avatar
    LD Jackson permalink
    January 4, 2011 7:40 am

    This is one more example of how the original intent of a law or amendment has been hijacked to meet the purposes of something else entirely. It’s good to see several of the states stepping to the forefront and trying to stop this insanity. My home state of Oklahoma is involved in this effort as well. I would hope we could get this on the fast track to the Supreme Court, as I am sure that is where it is headed. Better sooner than later.

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    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      January 4, 2011 7:51 am

      All of these laws and amendments and clauses seem to get expanded as time goes on and it is about time that we do something about this. 14 states is a good start but I would love to see even more so that we can make this issue a high priority in the judicial system.

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  4. bunkerville's avatar
    bunkerville permalink
    January 4, 2011 8:48 am

    Here Here!! Put me down as a Yes vote!

    Like

  5. America1st's avatar
    America1st permalink
    January 4, 2011 1:34 pm

    Any data on which legislator(s) will introduce such a bill here (in NH) and its identifying number? There are *so* many initiatives we must pursue at a state level and this is one of them.

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    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      January 4, 2011 9:30 pm

      I do not have that information, I just read that New Hampshire was going to introduce this legislation in the article that I linked to. If I find out that info I will do another post on it.

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  6. Harrison's avatar
    January 4, 2011 2:32 pm

    I think this is just a waste of time. While I understand and even agree, the amendment must be overturned for this to bear fruit. Better to prevent people coming here illegally to begin with.

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    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      January 4, 2011 9:31 pm

      In a perfect world we would halt illegal immigration, but we all know that isn’t going to happen so all the other options must be examined.

      Like

  7. rjjrdq's avatar
    January 5, 2011 2:42 am

    Depending on how Arizona fares in the Supreme Court, this may have the makings of “safe states,” that are not overrun with illegal aliens. E-verify and biometric ID’s are already on the table and their’s nothing Eric the coward can do about those. This is a good sign.

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    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      January 5, 2011 7:29 am

      This is a good sign, and here is to hoping that this continues for the next two years. Of course we still have the Executive Orders to worry about.

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  8. Sonny's avatar
    Sonny permalink
    August 16, 2012 12:36 am

    As an update to this, of course we all know that obama has created yet another executive order, to allow “children” of illegals to remain here, get jobs, benefits etc etc. Arizona is doing our fair share to stop this, as Governor Brewer, has just issued an executive order that disallows any illegal to have any kind of benefits, drivers licenses work permits.. etc etc. Arizona is not going down without a fight…

    Like

  9. polos ralph lauren hombre baratos's avatar
    February 10, 2015 9:52 am

    Gracias por tu blog, muy emocionante.

    Like

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  1. Are the constitutional rights of illegal aliens being violated by the Arizona immigration law?
  2. Representative Steve King introduces legislation to end “birthright citizenship” « America's Watchtower

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