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  1. #1
    Very Senior Member Gawain of Orkeny's Avatar
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    Default Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Article Launched: 06/22/2005 01:00:00 AM

    al knight
    Change U.S. law on anchor babies
    By Al Knight

    There's nothing quite as important as timing in politics. A fact that might go unnoticed for years can, at the right moment, help change the direction of national policy.

    Consider the issue of anchor babies and what, if anything, should be done about them. Anchor babies, for those not yet familiar with the term, is the description given to babies of illegal immigrants who are delivered in the United States. These babies, under current interpretation of U.S. law, automatically become U.S. citizens and most qualify immediately for a variety of benefits, including Medicaid. Over time, they can open the door to citizenship to other family members.

    Last week, there was a flurry of national news stories announcing the current estimate that 300,000 such babies are born each year in this country.

    There are, of course, pro-immigration groups whose members wouldn't blink, let alone protest, if the number was 10 times that high. Most people, however, would find the number somewhat shocking. Indeed, the news stories set off a new flurry of debate over whether the existing provisions relating to what is called birthright citizenship can or should be changed.

    There is a special intensity in this discussion in some states - including California, Texas and Florida - with high anchor baby populations. But the issue is also being noticed in places like Georgia, where the number of anchor babies doubled from 5,133 in 2000 to 11,180 in 2002. Several years ago in Colorado, the number of such births was estimated at more than 6,000.

    A measure pending in Congress would change the Constitution to deny citizenship rights to babies born to illegal immigrants. The proposed amendment is currently given little or no chance of passage but it certainly helps to focus attention on the nature of the problem.

    More than a dozen years ago, Peter Schuck and Rogers Smith put it this way in their article "Consensual Citizenship," in the magazine Chronicles: "The present guarantee under American law of automatic birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens can operate ... as one more incentive to illegal migration and violation by nonimmigrant aliens already here. When this attraction is combined with the powerful lure of expanded entitlements conferred upon citizen children and their families by the modern welfare state, the total incentive effect of birthright citizenship may well become significant."

    That passage was written


    in 1992 when the number of such births was estimated at less than 150,000 per year. Since then, the number has more than doubled.

    The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States."

    At the time the amendment was approved, the author of the clause, Sen. Jacob M. Howard, said the phrase relating to jurisdiction meant, "This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners ... ."

    In subsequent years, the courts invalidated the assurances of Howard; at this stage, an amendment to the Constitution seems the only means available to change the law.

    In some places in California, births to illegal immigrants make up 70 percent of the total deliveries. Overall statewide, they constitute 25 percent to 33 percent.

    Not so long ago in Ireland, there was a policy of granting residency and possible citizenship to anyone who had a baby there. In Dublin hospitals, births to foreigners made up 25 percent of the total. That fact forced a change in Ireland's constitution in 2004. It now reads:

    "Notwithstanding any other provision, a person born on the island of Ireland who does not have at the time of birth of that person at least one parent who is an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen is not entitled to Irish citizenship or nationality unless provided by law."

    Change a couple of words, and it is a safe bet that that amendment would receive a high level of popular support in the United States.

    A Denver talk show host recently announced confidently that the current policy on anchor babies could never be changed in this country. But then, a few years ago, no one in Ireland thought that the country's constitution could be amended, either.

    Al Knight of Fairplay is a former member of The Post's editorial-page staff. His columns appear on Wednesday.
    Let me re quote

    Last week, there was a flurry of national news stories announcing the current estimate that 300,000 such babies are born each year in this country
    But the issue is also being noticed in places like Georgia, where the number of anchor babies doubled from 5,133 in 2000 to 11,180 in 2002.
    In some places in California, births to illegal immigrants make up 70 percent of the total deliveries. Overall statewide, they constitute 25 percent to 33 percent.
    Theres a move in congress to change this law. Why should we give further incentive for people to disobey the law?
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    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Bruce Lee
    Our genes maybe in the basement but it does not stop us chosing our point of view from the top.
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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Wouldn't Brandon Lee be the appropriate example in this case?

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    Very Senior Member Gawain of Orkeny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Bruce Lee
    Wouldn't Brandon Lee be the appropriate example in this case?
    Who cares their both dead. Neither did anytrhing great for america. Even if some become the best citizens we ever had it doesnt make whats going on now right. How many other nations have this type of law?
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    Slapshooter Senior Member el_slapper's Avatar
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    Default Re : Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    France. Whoever born in France and raised up in France may be granted citizenship as long as they demand it between the ages of 18 and 20(or 16 and 20, I don't remember the details). Though it does not help their family getting legal.

    In fact, here in France, illegal immigrants have one single lone right : their children are allowed in schools. It is even mandatory for them, in fact, be they legals or illegals - they shall go to republica's school. And their children are allowed to stay, & may ask for citizenship.


    Now tell me : why a country fully built on immigration (don't tell me amerindians really mattered in USA's history) would suddenly be so harsh? I mean, the guy born in a location, he's from here! You want to send him back home? He IS at home!!!

    We have strictly the same debate over here. My position is : the trespasser, well, if he's caught, bad luck for him. The child born here, OTOH, is from here. As much as I am. Whatever its parents. He now is part of this soil. Like me. Its town is Montreuil or Sarcelles, not Ouagadougou or Bamako.

    Now I will tell the tale of Rio Antonio Mavuba. 20 years ago, as Angola was torn in a violent civil war, refugees did flee through a ship. The little Rio was born in this ship. Its parents, as all people aboard, were looking for a better life, in a peaceful and welcoming country. They did navigate through the oceans until they did find a safe haven. Today, Rio Antonio Mavuba is a sucessful professional sports player, recently naturalized and proudly carrying the flag of its new country. This DOES sound as an american dream, no? But Rio is now french, soccer/football player in Bordeaux & member of the national team.

    Is that really what you want? erasing the american dream? USA are a dream for many people in this planet - it is a huge strength for your country. Stories of successful immigrants have made the american dream true for countless people. This is USA's first strength. And you want to sit up upon it????? Me fails to understand.
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    Very Senior Member Gawain of Orkeny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Is that really what you want? erasing the american dream?
    The American dream isnt running accross the border to plop your kid on US soil so as to be an American. If I rob a bank should my kid be able to enjoy the spoils? Rewarding people for breaking the law by making their children US citizens is ludicrous.
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    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemurmania
    Wouldn't Brandon Lee be the appropriate example in this case?
    No Bruce Lee was born in the US while his father was doing an Opera tour.

    Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco, California to a Chinese father, Lee Hoi-Chuen (李海泉), and Chinese-German mother Grace Lee(何金棠). Because of his father's fame as a Chinese opera actor Lee had the opportunity to appear in several Chinese movies as a child. He also studied the Wing Chun style of Kung Fu. And at a young age he quickly picked up the dialects/ languages of English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese.

    In 1959, Lee went to Seattle to complete his high school education. He received his diploma from Edison Technical School and went on to enroll in the University of Washington as a philosophy major. It was at the UW that he would meet his wife Linda Emery.
    Our genes maybe in the basement but it does not stop us chosing our point of view from the top.
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  8. #8
    Very Senior Member Gawain of Orkeny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    No Bruce Lee was born in the US while his father was doing an Opera tour.
    If your here legaly then your child should recieve citizenship if wanted. Nut illegals are another matter. If I break into your home while your gone and my wife or GF gives birth to our baby there can we stay and are your rersponsible to support our child?
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    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    That opens a whole can of worms by making a child responsible for the crimes of their parents.

    Verse 1
    Hi my name is Snoopy Puffy Puppy and I am a six year old child.
    I didn't stop my father from holding up the local liquor store,
    or stop my mum being a crack *insert rhyming word here*.
    So now I am going to do ten to twenty because I am responsible for my parents crimes.
    Our genes maybe in the basement but it does not stop us chosing our point of view from the top.
    Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
    Pape for global overlord!!
    Quote Originally Posted by English assassin
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    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg View Post
    The rest is either as average as advertised or, in the case of the missionary, disappointing.

  10. #10
    Member Member bmolsson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Change U.S. law on anchor babies

    Quote Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny
    If your here legaly then your child should recieve citizenship if wanted. Nut illegals are another matter. If I break into your home while your gone and my wife or GF gives birth to our baby there can we stay and are your rersponsible to support our child?
    Why blame the child for something the parents have done ??

    For being against abortions, I must say you are not very sensitive against protecting innocent childrens from ignorant parents.....

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