There has been much discussion in the media and government over the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and the impact it may have on immigration.
The Citizenship, or Naturalization, Clause was ratified on July 9, 1868, and states: "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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens in the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
The 14th Amendment reversed the Dred Scott vs. Sanford decision of 1857, which prevented any blacks in America from ever becoming legal citizens, with full rights and privileges. The Citizenship Clause effectively forced Southern states to make blacks legal citizens. The decision to ratify the Constitution and successive decisions in the 142 years since have been intricate and divisive. However, people are calling for another look at the amendment because of the ease in which illegal immigrants' children are becoming citizens and, thus, mouths to feed on the government dole.
In the early years of the twenty-first century, illegal aliens now play a considerable part in states' current budget crises. The parents take advantage of the welfare state for their new American citizens while paying little to no taxes to support it. California is now threatened with bankruptcy because of such actions.
In addition to California, Texans are also feeling the burden of instant American citizenry. About 60,000 babies are born to illegal immigrants every year in that state, costing the healthcare and education systems billions of dollars. In the face of liberal ire, State Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) has promised to bring a bill to the Texas State Legislature that would forbid the state from issuing birth certificates to children born to illegal immigrants.
In the years immediately following the Civil War, the Great Society had not yet been established. Thus, mass exploitation of the welfare state wasn't yet a considerable concern. Nonetheless, it has become a problem to be addressed, which lawmakers have begun to do again.
Democrats, who traditionally love unfettered illegal immigration, say conservatives are the bad guys, and that it's about winning votes in the November election and not about repairing the immigration crisis (although they would never say it's a crisis). They're also going back to the old talking point that conservatives care nothing about the children. They can't just go back onto the streets, they screech self-righteously.
However, common sense should tell us that America cannot possibly afford to support all these illegal aliens. Americans are cash-strapped as it is, what with Obama's tax and spend policies that severely constrict free enterprise. Liberals ask what will be done with the innocent children. Well, they may be innocent, but that doesn't mean they're entitled to food stamps. In actuality, they should be sent back to their home country with their parents. Because changing a constitutional amendment is such a complex and rare process, this issue will be driving much debate in the next few years. If we try to take care of everyone, we'll soon find ourselves able to care for no one.
Rob Stanley is recording artist and creator of Rockanomics.com, a leading online community for conservative news, new music, political opinion, and pop culture interests. Click here for more on this article and to read others like it.
