Speech #1140013393

There needs to be a crackdown on these operations. but the ultimate crackdown and ultimate solution is to change the policy of the Federal Government that recognizes these children immediately as U.S. citizens simply because they are physically born in this country even though both of their parents are here illegally. No parent is here under any sort of legal status. and that is the ultimate response and ultimate solution we need. and that is what my amendmentthat I will call up as soon as that is allowed and get a vote onis about. My amendment would change the present practice. policy. and law to say that only somebody born in this country who has at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen. a legal green card holder. or a serving member of the U.S. military. immediately gets that recognition as a U.S. citizen. As I suggested. this issue and practiceincluding this shadowy world of birth tourism and human smugglingis a very serious issue. In fact. it is an exploding issue. as these recent cases in the press have brought to light. According to the Center for Immigration Studies. each year about 300.000 to 400.000 children are born to illegal aliens in the United States. and under our present practice. all of them are immediately recognized as U.S. citizens. This is a huge magnet for more illegal crossings into our country. often at the hands of very dangerous people. Birthright citizenship draws women from Mexico and Central America to make that dangerous trek north. often in the hands of coyotes and drug cartels.