What do you mean the alternative is bleak? Please explain before I respond incorrectly
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i wouldn't worry about responding incorrectly. i'm sure i've done my share of that. but since you asked, the way i see it, there are three ways to become a citizen, by birth, by naturalization or by blood (e.g., one's ancestry). in this country, citizenship is by birth or naturalization. if birth is no longer a basis for citizenship, then what replaces it? the answer, to my mind is that blood will then determine who becomes a citizen. in country after country, jus sanguine (law of the blood) has been used to divest jews of citizenship. that is what they did in germany and you can understand why it makes me uncomfortable.
this country was supposed to be different from every other. it was supposed to welcome everyone with open arms. that is why my grandparents came here. i'd hate to see that ruined because of hysteria.
do you know what percentage of our population is illegal immigrants? approximately 1.5% according to the sources i looked at today (though that number may have changed slightly). that number is about the same as the percentage of the population that is jewish, just to put it in perspective for you. do you think we should allow hysteria to govern what we do for 1.5%? or should we find ways to close our borders and then give people already here who have committed no crimes and who finish two years of college or serve in our military a path to citizenship?
Jillian if we completely eliminated the 14th ammendment as if it never existed you would still be a citizen by birth (AKA blood) as long as your parents are american citizens. You would still be able to immigrate and be naturalized too. I feel you are arguing something that is not related ot the issue in an effort to make the point that we need the 14th ammendment and its current interpretation which creates/allows for anchor baby situation.
In light of this I dont think your final 2 paragraphs relate to the conversation at all. I am not trying to be a jerk but trying to get you thinking here. People would still be welcome to legally immigrate with open arms and the children of these legal immigrant citizens, since the parents are legal immigrants who became citizens, would also be citizens.
By doing away with the 14th ammendment the concerns you raised would not be issues at all. I really dont see it at all.
I think many just don't understand and are being confused as to what getting rid of or ammending the 14th ammedment would do so i'll clarify.
Getting rid of or ammending the 14th ammendment would ONLY ensure that the children of foreign nationals, who give birth while on united states soil, do not become american citizens by default. For example, If 2 germans were visiting america on vacation and the german wife had a baby that baby would NOT become an american citizen.
If you want I can go into the difference between the slaves that were forced to come here to work from africa and the illegal immigrants who chose to come here and work illegally from around the world.
