Some Reality on the 14th Amendment from Foner and Nissen

Born in the U.S.A. Is What Makes Someone American
By Eric Foner, Bloomberg Opinion
August 17, 2010

For almost 150 years Americans have believed that anyone born here, whatever his or her origins, can be a good citizen. There is no reason to believe the children of illegal immigrants are any different.

Congress should think long and hard before tampering with this essential American principle embodied in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Approved by Congress in 1866 at the outset of Reconstruction and ratified two years later, the amendment establishes the principle of birthright citizenship. With minor exceptions, all persons born in this country are American citizens, whatever the status of their parents. [...]

Read the full article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-18/born-in-u-s-a-is-what-makes-someone-an-american-commentary-by-eric-foner.html

New Attacks on Birthright Citizenship: “Anchor Babies” and the 14th Amendment
By Julia Nissen, Council on Hemispheric Affairs
August 24, 2010

Recently, the somewhat repugnant term “anchor babies” has entered the immigration debate, as certain conservatives call for a reassessment of the 14th Amendment, claiming it wrongly protects the children of undocumented immigrants. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), in a surprisingly radical move on his part, appeared on Fox News on July 28th explaining a new tactic dubbed “drop and leave,” in which undocumented mothers come to the U.S. explicitly to have a child.

Read the full report:
http://www.coha.org/new-attacks-on-birthright-citizenship-%e2%80%9canchor-babies%e2%80%9d-and-the-14th-amendment/