When they returned from August recess this week, Reps. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), and Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) signed up to cosponsor Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) bill that would end the practice of birthright citizenship. This brings the total number of cosponsors up to 53, which is the highest amount of cosponsors this bill has had since the 112th Congress.
The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers (NAFBPO) has endorsed NumberUSA’s "10 Steps to Fix Our Broken Immigration System".
Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) has recently cosponsored Rep. Bill Posey’s bill to end the Visa Lottery and Rep. Steve King’s bill that would end Birthright Citizenship. This makes Rep. Brat one of only two Members of Congress to cosponsor all NumbersUSA’s 5 Great Immigration Solution Bills and earn a 100% score on his Immigration Grade Card this Congress, the other member is Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala).
Birthright Citizenship Fact Sheet
As of 2015, bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate to end birthright citizenship—S.45 introduced by Sen. Vitter and H.R. 140 by Rep. Steve King.
This week Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) wrote an op-ed in The Hill supporting the idea of ending birthright citizenship for the children born in the U.S. to illegal aliens.
The Supreme Court has never officially ruled on the interpretation of the first clause of the 14th Amendment, which states: "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 interpretation of the section "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" is what leads to the birthright citizenship debate for illegal aliens.
The information below was gathered from studies conducted by organizations such as The Center for Immigration Studies and The Pew Hispanic Center.
MYTH: The main problem with birthright citizenship is that it provides an enticement for illegal immigration and increases the number of dual citizens.
TRUTH: Anchor babies are the main problem because it allows illegal alien parents to stay in the U.S.
The straw man that many set up is that the argument against birthright citizenship is based on the belief that it is a major enticement for illegal immigration.
Since 2016 GOP Presidential Hopeful, Donald Trump, released his immigration plan last weekend that called for ending Birthright Citizenship, many of the other presidential hopefuls have been asked to declare if they support or oppose ending birthright citizenship. Here is a list of what the other 2016 presidential hopefuls have said this week about the issue.