Sharron Angle is now getting on board with those Republicans who are calling for an end to birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. But instead of amending the Constitution, Angle is apparently in the camp that believes it can be done through legislation.
Jon Ralston reports that Angle said during a media availability yesterday that “certainly someone who has not come here under the rule of law is not under our jurisdiction.” She also added: “I think Congress needs to become involved.”
Birthright citizenship comes from the very first sentence of the 14th Amendment: “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.” This was enacted in order to guarantee racial equality, especially for the freed slaves after the Civil War, and has been extended to cover all racial groups.
But when it comes to the children of illegal immigrants, some conservatives think they’ve found their loophole. However, experts have told TPM that any such plans to change the law are “clearly unconstitutional.”
The TPM Poll Average for the Nevada Senate race gives Harry Reid a lead of 45.1%-42.7%.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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