Speech #1030082489

Mr. Speaker. there has been a lot of misinformation circulated about my proposal to amend the Constitution to reform our citizenship policies as part of my package of bills to address the crisis of illegal immigration. This proposal would simply remove the loophole in our citizenship laws that a growing number of illegal aliens are taking advantage ofcoming to our Nation to give birth here. often at taxpayer expense. which automatically confers American citizenship on the child. By doing so. the child is eligible for every AmerIcan benefit program. and when he or she turns 21. he or she can bring his or her immediate family into the United States or legalize them if theyre here already. I would argue that this growing problem is not what the authors of the 14th amendment had in mind when they enacted the amendment to overturn the infamous Dred Scott decision and grant freed slaves the full rights of citizenship.