1993 flip-flop: Sen. Reid introduced bill 'clarifying' birthright citizenship

[Vel]

Looks like Harry has some explaining to do.
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1993 flip-flop: Sen. Reid introduced bill 'clarifying' birthright citizenship

For all the brouhaha over Republicans wanting to review the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, the citizenship/birthright clause, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, once supported revising the current interpretation of the birthright citizenship clause in 1993.

Mr. Reid introduced a bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee as the Immigration Stabilization Act of 1993. The bill, which died in committee after it was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs, includes tough immigration provisions that would make many wonder where Mr. Reid truly stands on the immigration and border debate.

Title X of the Reid introduced bill shows the Nevada Democrat took Senator Lindsey Graham's, South Carolina Republican, idea on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment and documented it into legislation:

"TITLE X—CITIZENSHIP 4 SEC. 1001. BASIS OF CITIZENSHIP CLARIFIED. In the exercise of its powers under section of the Fourteenth Article of Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress has determined and hereby declares that any person born after the date of enactment of this title to a mother who is neither a citizen of the United States nor admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, and which person is a national or citizen of another country of which either of his or her natural parents is a national or citizen, or is entitled upon application to become a national or citizen of such country, shall be considered as born subject to the jurisdiction of that foreign country and not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States within the meaning of section 1 of such Article and shall therefore not be a citizen of the United States or of any State solely by reason of physical presence within the United States at the moment of birth."

Even the summary of the bill contains language that would offend many of Mr. Reid's supporters who are pushing amnesty for illegal immigrants in the United States:

1993 flip-flop: Sen. Reid introduced bill 'clarifying' birthright citizenship - Washington Times

 

[waltky]

Arizona Senate panel OKs bill barring birthright citizenship...

Latest Ariz. immigration bills have tougher path
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 -- Would deny automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants

Fatigue with the illegal immigration issue could stand in the way of new legislation being considered by Arizona lawmakers, including a sweeping bill championed by the same senator whose law last year prompted nationwide protests. The many provisions of Senate President Russell Pearce's latest bill target education and other public services as well as activities ranging from hiring to driving. Pearce's late-emerging bill and other proposals sponsored by fellow Republicans cleared a Senate committee dominated by conservatives late Tuesday. But two committee Republicans voted against Pearce's bill, and a GOP senator who's not on the committee said Wednesday that full Senate votes on the measures will be close.

Minority Democrats regularly vote against most Republican hard-liners' illegal immigration bills, "and there are other Republicans besides me that have concerns with them," said Sen. John McComish of Phoenix. "We need a timeout on immigration bills." Pearce drafted his bill Friday and introduced it Monday, past the normal deadline. "This was a very quick fix (at the) last minute to make sure that we did not ignore the voters of this state," he said, referring to provisions that would tighten illegal immigration laws approved by voters in the last decade.

However, Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, said, "This bill is miles beyond SB1070 in terms of its potential to roll back the rights and fundamental freedoms of both citizens and non-citizens alike." Opponents also said fallout would damage the state's economy just as businesses are poised to regain lost ground. Passage of SB1070 last year touched off calls for boycotts and a national debate on whether states can enforce federal immigration laws. Key portions of the law have been put on hold by a court pending outcome of legal challenges.

The Senate Appropriations Committee that narrowly endorsed Pearce's latest bill on a 7-6 vote also approved others targeting automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants and requiring hospitals to report patients who cannot show they're in the country legally. The measures now face a legal review and discussions by party caucuses before being considered by the full Senate. Passage would send them to the House.

Read more: Latest Ariz. immigration bills have tougher path

 

[LilOlLady]

No, he has no explaining to do and neither does McCain. He has flip flopped again and it's business as usually. He was for it, against it and now for it again.


Graham, McCain flirting with immigration reform support
Liz Goodwin liz Goodwin – Mon Feb 7,
Two Republican senators who took a hard right turn against immigration reform last spring are signaling they may be prepared to revisit comprehensive immigration reform in the new Congress.
Of course, the GOP-controlled House would most likely never pass an immigration bill erecting a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants. But GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are nonetheless hinting that the Senate may attempt reform anyway.


Graham, McCain flirting with immigration reform support - Yahoo! News

 

[waltky]

Not so - the offer of citizenship (plus other customary veterans benefits) granted for military service could be used to replace birthright citizenship...

Birthright citizenship ban could hamper U.S. military recruiting
Mar. 23, 2011 - Critics of crackdown cast this as a national security issue

Hundreds of thousands of children born to illegal immigrants every year would no longer be eligible to join the military if efforts to restrict birthright citizenship are successful. That has some immigration experts concerned that ending birthright citizenship could exacerbate chronic shortages of U.S. troops and hamper national security in the future. "What happens is, if you take all these people out of the (recruiting) pool, it's going to have a huge impact on the military," said Margaret Stock, a retired Army Reserves lieutenant colonel and immigration attorney in Anchorage, Alaska. She specializes in military cases and has testified before Congress on immigration issues related to the military.

About 350,000 children born in the U.S. in 2009 had at least one undocumented parent, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research group in Washington, D.C. About 8 percent of all children born in the U.S. from March 2009 to March 2010 had undocumented parents, according to the center. Based on those numbers, Stock estimates that the military could lose 8 to 10 percent of its recruits in the future. That would be a significant loss, Stock said, because the U.S. military is all voluntary and requires a large pool of people to produce enough qualified recruits.

Under legislation pending in several states and Congress, the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants would no longer be granted automatic citizenship. They would be considered illegal immigrants and therefore not be eligible to join the military. Currently, people who want to join the military must be at least a legal permanent resident. Last week, the Arizona Senate rejected bills aimed at limiting birthright citizenship, but supporters have vowed to pursue the measure. Nearly 12 percent of enlisted men and women in the military are Latinos, according to the Defense Department. "(For Hispanics) serving in the military is a point of pride, culturally," Stock said. "The Pentagon has done longitudinal studies on immigrants in the military showing they are more likely to join than native-born citizens and stay in longer."

Read more: Birthright citizenship ban could hamper U.S. military recruiting

 

[LilOlLady]

Harry Reid Flip Flops on 14th Amendment: Citizenship Birthright

That’s right in 1993 Harry Reid was for modifying the Immigration and Nationality Act, but today when it means VOTES he’s against changing anything. On Mark Levin’s radio program he said Congress can pass a statue and change the 14th that way.

Let’s take a look at the 14th amendment…the part in dispute:

Harry Reid Flip Flops on 14th Amendment: Citizenship Birthright « www.offmyfrontporch.com