American Citizenship Is And Should Be A Birthright

A big issue that surrounds the United States today is whether or not babies born on United States soil are to be considered full-fledged citizens or not, regardless of the family’s recent migration into the United States. The children born in the United States to illegal alien mothers are often referred to as "anchor babies”. Under current practice, these children are United States citizens at birth, simply because they were born on United States soil. They are called anchor babies because, as United States citizens, they become eligible to sponsor their relatives when they turn 21 years of age, thus becoming the legal United States "anchor" for an extended immigrant family (Shopper). Thus, the United States born children of illegal aliens not only represent additional U.S. population growth, but also act as anchors to eventually pull a large number of extended family members into the country legally; moreover, a whole industry has built up around the United States system of birthright citizenship, thousands of pregnant women who are about to deliver come to the United States each year from countries as far away as South Korea and as near as Mexico so that they can give birth on U.S. soil (Anchor Babies, NumbersUSA).The original intent of the 14th Amendment was clearly not considering illegal aliens going around the United States laws. Estimates indicate there may be over 300,000 anchor babies born each year in the United States; overall, causing illegal alien mothers to add

The modern conventional wisdom of the phrase “natural born citizen” in the presidential eligibility clause referred to anyone who was a U.S. citizen at birth either by a U.S. statute or via the Constitution. The Constitution has no “definition” section, and subsequently the Supreme Court has stated that when the Constitution is silent the law “must be interpreted in the light of the common law, the principles and history of which were familiarly known to the framers of the Constitution.” My argument is simple, it is reasonable to assume that the framers, most of whom were well-trained lawyers, purposely did not define the term ‘natural born citizen’ believing that the controlling common law principle was Jus Soli, and that Congress would pass corresponding statutes to accommodate any exceptions to this principle similar to the practice that occurred in England with Parliament.

The history of Birthright Citizenship gives the reason for its existence. Back to the year of 1857, in the Dred Scott decision passed by the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roger Taney declared that blacks were “regarded as beings of an inferior order and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations; and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect”, irritating all the free ones and slaveries who pursued the basic rights to live as equal as the Caucasians did (Howard 407). As known to all, it was a major fuse that ignited the Civil Wars, which

Many pregnant immigrant women are illegally coming into the country just to have their babies. These women get free medical attention for themselves and the baby. This is costing the U.S. millions of dollars every year.

     All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to      the      jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State      wherein they      reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge      the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State      deprive any      person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor      deny to any      person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws      (http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html ).

I also agree with the fact that the term “natural born citizen” is very ambiguous. A child that is born within the borders of the US is obviously a natural born citizen, but it could also mean someone with American parents, regardless of not being born in the U.S is American. This term is very vague and since the Supreme Court has not ruled on a specific definition, I believe that it can be interpreted in different

Citizenship can be defined as the position or status of being a citizen in a particular country (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016). This definition is not very broad, nor does it cover the many aspects of citizenship that exist in the 21st century. It is not only about being a legal citizen of a particular country, it is also about being a social citizen. You can be a citizen of Australia but choose to live elsewhere for the majority of your life. In terms of citizenship it is relevant on a political and social level. If you are actively contributing to the country in which you live in some ways you are fulfilling your duties as a citizen.

In his address to the country on immigration, President Obama said that “being an American is not a matter of blood or birth.” (2015, Klukowski), Would you agree? When you think of America and its constitutional rights afforded to all, it’s very likely that birthright citizenship (under the 14th amendment) is one of the rights that comes to mind- “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” The United States and Canada are the only developed nations that grant automatic citizenship so expansively to children born within their borders. Anyone born in the United

In a journal article by Alex Street on the issue of birth naturalization in Germany, he points out that parents are prone to naturalize while their children are young, in order to ensure that their children grow up as citizens of the country of residence. He continues by pointing out that “By granting citizenship to many children born in Germany to immigrant parents, the introduction of jus soli (citizenship by birth) removed this "intergenerational" incentive for parents to naturalize.”(Street Nov. 2015) If it someone truly wishes to live the “American Dream” and ensure that for their children, why not show their children the importance of this concept by becoming an American and living the dream

It contrasts with citizenship acquired in other ways, for example by naturalization later in life. Birthright citizenship may be conferred by jus soli or jus sanguinis. Under United States law, any person born within the United States (including the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands)[1] and subject to its jurisdiction is automatically granted U.S. citizenship,[2] as are many (though not all) children born to American citizens overseas. (Spaulding, 2010).

Birthright citizenship causes many problems for the American society. The first major issue is that it causes a bad chain reaction. Once the child has citizenship, it makes it harder to deport the parents, who are still illegal aliens. This becomes a moral dilemma when the parents are breaking the law and their child is stuck here. Having a baby is beneficial for the parents, because it gives them a better chance of gaining citizenship. The chain reaction starts when the family starts inviting their extended family and inlaws to take advantage of this loophole in the constitution. This means that more undocumented immigrants have an incentive to come to America and break the law.

The U.S. immigrant population stood at more than 42.4 million (13.3 percent) of the total U.S. population of 318.9 million in 2014, according to American Community Service (ACS) data. Clearly our nation needs an inclusive immigration plan. Since the number of immigrants is increasing drastically, granting immigrants U.S. citizenship will benefit the nation drastically in many ways. If the U.S. Congress understood the reasons why illegal immigrants should be citizens, then he would grant amnesty to the dreamers.

Become a citizen of one of the best nations in the world is a privilege that not many people have. I’m talking about the United States of America. If you are an U.S natural born citizen you have rights and responsibilities that protect you based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution. People who are in the position to become U.S. citizens gain the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of citizenship as natural born American with the only restriction that they can’t be eligible for President of the United States.

The question of birthright citizenship, can be one of America’s hotly debated topic; that is next to illegal immigration which it is married. “Birthright Citizenship”, addresses the children born outside the country of their parent’s legal residence, and this is not just an American issue. While this previous statement, does not specify state illegal immigration, which appears to be some of the debate of this issue, during political season this does become a talking point in political circles.

Some people don’t even realize that they’re citizens, other have no idea how to become one. Being a citizen of the United States has many benefits. For instance, being able to travel, apply for scholarships, being eligible for federal jobs, and most importantly the right to vote. If a person isn’t already a citizen there is not many ways to becoming a citizen, really, it just depends on the circumstances. So what makes someone a citizen well, the most simple of them all is being born in the U.S. Some don’t realize the fact that regardless of whether the parents have their citizenship or not if they’re born in the U.S that makes them citizens. Speaking of parents, Even if a person isn’t born in the U.S if at least one of the parents are citizens