Birthright citizenship will guarantee third world status and living conditions within a few generations. What a disgrace to reward law breaking with the gift of citizenship. The decisions politicians are making in this country are upside town with basic common sense and logic. Pretty soon, the rest of the country with resemble the sad condition of California.

After reading the last 15 or so posted comments on the Business Week debate, I have even more respect for Roy Beck than I did before, if that is possible. The posters who are for continuing birthright citizenship did not put forth reasoned arguments to support their position. Instead they reverted to name-calling and mentioned skin color, even referring to Roy as a "white guy."

Roy, you probably have had to listen to this hate language since you started speaking about the negative effects of too many people crowding into our country. I admire your persistence.

I understand from previous postings that other presidents issued immediate deportation of illegal immigrants & overstayed H1B visa folks out of the country. Why? Because of the high unemployment rate of legitimate American citizens.

Out here in East San Diego County, the foreclosure rates are sky high - the majority of the subprime loans went to Mexican citizens who wanted to get in on everything they could, then couldn't come up with the monies - so this entire county is in shambles. I see lots of Baja Calif license plates where we live and go (medical clinics, stores, restaurants, etc.) We also have a huge African population in City of San Diego (Somali refugees) & a huge Iraqi group here in East County. Along with illegal immigration, there should be a total block to anymore refugees allowed in - they get monies from the state.. and Gov. Arnold sent me a reply stating that illegal immigration only accounts for 5% of the State's budget - well that's 5% TOO MUCH!

Napolitano doesn't want to rock the boat with the businesses who want cheap labor - she's a problem already.

So in closing - if other presidents can issue mass deportation of non citizens, why don't we do it NOW... or better yet, enforce E-Verify, continue ICE Raids - and last piece - for those employers hiring illegal aliens, let's take their assets and social security away from them ... they don't need that money anyway... so no anchor babies, no illegal immigrants, yes to E Verify, yes to English as national language..

your thoughts?
Greth & Sheila

NumbersUSA Moderator: Even taking his numbers as fact, 5% of $100 billion is $5 billion. Why should that be off limits to cuts? FAIR estimates the cost to Californians is $10 billion.

First, let me say that I love NumbersUSA. But I find it hard to believe that with so many of us against immigration, that not one of us seem to be able to stop what is happening in our country. With America's love for sensationalism, maybe that is the route to go? Seriously, start a reality show, find a SUPERSTAR to back us and I know this sounds really dumb but our government will not listen to us and we need to do something. I've sent all of the faxes, I've called my Reps and Senators, so have thousands of us here that belong to Numbers USA, but NO ONE will listen. Can anyone explain WHY? Does anyone actually know a politician that can tell them why we are ignored? Why they are letting our country be destroyed from within? I just feel so helpless as I watch America go down the drain no matter how hard, "We the People" fight with our own government.

NumbersUSA Moderator: Kim, our system is set up to make it difficult to pass new laws. An offensive victory will take an even greater dedication on our parts. Please encourage everyone you know to sign the petition.

Californias budget crisis Is due to ONE THING..... ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!! They are draining the state of all Of Its resources,Including our WATER!!! http://www.cbs47.tv/news/local/story/Budget-Crisis-Illegal-Immigrants-Co... http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2009/mar/budget-crisis-forces-cut-free... http://www.borderfirereport.net/frosty-wooldridge/change-you-never-expec... http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-illegal10-2009jul10,0,3398621.st...

Good words, Roy! I agree with all that you say. Thanks again for your efforts.

I strongly suspect that birthright citizenship is the reason why the birthrate in the U.S.A. is as high as it is. Take away immigrant fertility, and our total fertility rate is similar to other industrialized nations. There is a strong incentive for both legal and illegal immigrants to have babies in that their permanent residency is much more likely if they have a citizen baby. Eliminating birthright citizenship is as important as removing the jobs magnet and halting chain migration.

Besides all of the statistics that everyone here can quote, the matter of right, wrong, and the actual law have been glossed over for decades...

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment 2 years later, despite their legalese, clearly state that birthright citizenship only applies to parents who are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. and not subject to a foreign power... Obviously, foreign nationals illegally invading this country do not qualify.

Moreover, the actual AUTHOR of the Citizenship Clause, Senator Jacob Howard, is on record as saying that automatic citizenship "will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States..."

Again, citizens owing allegiance to OTHER countries, who are trespassing in this country, breaking any laws they care to, and who take to our streets to protest OUR government with Spanish-language placards and Mexican or Salvadorean flags, are obviously NOT supposed to receive birthright citizenship!

When writing to elected AZ officials here I reference bills and mention facts about illegals not deserving Amnesty, receiving too many social benefits, jobs. and the number of illegals in AZ is 550,000. Fertile as these illegals are soon count of their offspring will be 2 million.

I keep looking for best way to convince my APATHETIC friends their HELP is needed in letter writing. I wish I had a dollar for each apathetic response on illegal immigration, amensty, e-verify!!! I suggest sending disaproving letters to elected officials that we remember how they voted on immigration issue. Tell your elected officials who vote incorectly, they will not be RE-ELECTED, and that I remember how they vote. NumbersUSA makes this easy.

Why can't our legislators do what is right for the betterment of our country and its citizens? Why do they turn a blind eye when it is obvious that we are being taken advantage of by illegal immigrants. Is it only their careers that they care about and that they think that serving the illegals will enhance their careers? Lets get rid of all of these self serving legislators that do not care to represent us. We the people are in charge wether these legislators realize it or not. The 2010 election is drawing near. Lets review our legislators voting records and determine if they are serving our needs or their own. Lets get rid of those that don't properly represent us "We The People".

I just wrote this in a letter to my congressman re: healthcare reform

One thing that can be done to help curb healthcare costs is creating an immigration reform bill that stops rewarding people for coming to this country illegally. Illegal aliens take up a disproportionate amount of Arizona's resources - in healthcare, education and welfare/wic funding - and putting an end to their "rewards" will encourage them to go home, and stay there.

Most other countries in the world have ended "birthright citizenship", and chain migration. It is not only impractical but contributes to overpopulation and an overburdening of our infrastructure in every way.

Please consider this while you debate on healthcare. It is just one issue, but many of our current issues, including healthcare, come back to one - immigration. Our way of life is not sustainable as it sits, and something has to give. Were we to fix immigration, the rest would likely fix itself. No free healthcare to illegals means costs go down for the rest of us. No illegal children populating the schools - more resources for American children. No illegals in our jobs - undereducated Americans get jobs, and do not need as much (or any) government assitance. These things combined would make like much more affordable - and happier for all Americans.

The principle of citizenship through jus soli OR jus sanuinus has been with us for the history of this country. Its origins come from British law and go way back in time.

By assuring that any American will retain his/her birthright as an American citizen, one could be born outside the US and claim birthright as an American citizen through the "blood" (jus sanquinus) of ones parent or parents, depending on the citizenship sought. In many instances, most will only opt for one citizenship. However, some do opt for both. First is a claim to US citizenship when born outside the US through one of the parents who is an American citizen (naturalized or born in the US!). This is US citizenship by jus sanquinus ("blood").

However, we also have a provision called jus soli (citizenship via "place of birth"). This permits anyone (even other countries through international law and treaty agreements) citizenship in the country in which they were born. So, a person borne of an American father and French mother (French citizen) in France can claim by jus soli French citizenship at birth. Well, what's good for the goose is good for the gander!

To make "radical" changes to this law could wreak havoc on Americans who are born abroad as, when born, they may not be able to claim US citizenship anymore! Is this the outcome that you expect?

Be careful what you wish for, for it may not be the "truth" after all!

Anyse

From Charles: But Anyse, if the American father in France with his French wife is in France legally, then the way I see it, the child would be a citizen. Neither parent entered France illegally or overstayed a visa. There is still the problem of people coming to the country on tourist visas in order to give birth. This can be solved with a law saying that as long as one parent is of French nationality, and the other parent is legally present in the country, then the baby gets citizenship. Now apply all of that to the United States.

Unfortunately, I have witnessed several times people from Africa and Europe flying in their pregnant spouse during month 7 or 8 of pregnancy (some lying about due dates to get on the plane with some doctor's excuse from another continent or country) and finding doctors in this country to induce labor on our taxpayer dime and leave six weeks after the baby's birth with American passport in hand. Most of them come from countries who allow dual citizenships. One family I know between the family of six (four children) have passports from two EU countries and two African countries and the children have blue USA passports. This family in particular has positioned itself to lay claims to other countries or move at a moment's notice depending on how the economy was going or to get healthcare or avoid war etc or so they said when I asked. And my own Gynecologist says the requests for fertility meds from teenagers own up from illegal babies to get the anchor baby has his phone ringing off of the wall. They are NOT all from Mexico either and are coming from people from all over the world. And many Mexicans I have met who are illegal aliens brag about having property in Mexico but getting free healthcare and foodstamps etc on our taxpayer dime who encourage their teenagers to have the anchor baby despite not being married or graduated from high school. I have never seen such manipulation of the systems of so many countries before in my life. It has gotten corrupt and perverse and it is not healthy for the baby or the mother to be and the abuse needs to stop along with somehow regulating this dual citizen thing so that people who have property and assets hidden in other countries can't make us pay for their anchor baby.