How do you prove your soul is American?

[RebLem]

Hunter: U.S.-born kids of illegal immigrants should be deported

Congressman says Constitution's citizenship provision needs clarification

By EDWARD SIFUENTES - esifuentes@nctimes.com | Posted: April 27, 2010 6:33 pm | North Country Times

U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-El Cajon, told a tea party gathering in Ramona that he would support deporting the U.S. citizen children of illegal immigrants.

Hunter, who spoke before the group on Saturday, said he does not believe children born to illegal immigrant parents in the United States should get automatic citizenship, as is normally the case. Part of the event was videotaped and put on the website YouTube.

The comment, which was later confirmed by Hunter, was prompted by an audience member who asked Hunter whether he would have the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants deported. Hunter said that illegal immigrants cost the state billions in education, jail and other programs.

"I would have to, yes," Hunter answered. "And let me tell you why. You can say, 'You are a mean guy. That's not a humanitarian thing to do.' We simply cannot afford what we're doing right now. We just can't afford it. California is going under."

He added: "We're not being mean. We're just saying, 'It takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen.' It's within our souls." [Sounds like Hunter wants something like a Rassenhygiene program. RebLem]

Raoul Lowery Contreras, a Republican political commentator and occasional freelance columnist for the North County Times who often writes about Latino and immigration issues, said the congressman was pandering to the group.

"No one can deport or even question the citizenship of children born in the U.S.," Contreras said. "I suggest that Congressman Hunter read the Constitution of the United States and Supreme Court cases dating to 1804 in which natural-born citizenship has been defined over and over and over. Hunter is wrong."

Hunter said in a phone interview Tuesday that he stood by his comments. The event was hosted by the Ramona Tea'd at the Ramona Mainstage Theater on Saturday.

The congressman, whose district includes parts of Poway and Ramona in North County, said it makes sense that if the parents of illegal immigrant children are deported, that their children go with them. Hunter said he also supports a bill, House Resolution 1868, that would eliminate automatic citizenship for those children.

The Birthright Citizenship Act, as the bill is called, was introduced last year but stalled in a committee. The legislation has 91 co-sponsors, including Hunter and Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Vista; and Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach.

Bilbray said he agreed with Hunter that if the parents are deported, their U.S.-born children should go with them unless the parents can find a legal resident guardian who can take care of the kids.

"The parents shouldn't be exempt from the law because they have a (U.S.-born) child," Bilbray said.

Hunter said the bill is an effort to clarify the citizenship provision in the U.S. Constitution.

Under the Constitution's 14th Amendment ratified in 1868, children born in the U.S. are considered citizens. However, those who oppose birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants say the amendment does not apply.

Section 1 of the amendment, drafted with freed slaves in mind, says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

Some advocacy groups seeking to crack down on illegal immigration say the amendment has been misapplied over the years and that it was never intended to grant citizenship automatically to babies of illegal immigrants.

Critics say illegal immigrants are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States and therefore their children should not be given citizenship. The Birthright Citizenship Act would require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident or an immigrant serving in the U.S. military.

Contreras said he disagreed with Hunter. The bill is unconstitutional because it would take an amendment to change the wording of the citizenship provision, Contreras said.

"It (the Constitution) is not unclear," Contreras said. "He's repeating the words of wackos, and he is doing so because he doesn't know the Constitution."

Call staff writer Edward Sifuentes at 760-740-3511.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcou ... e4b06.html

[SaulChanukah]

If this country was founded by immigrants, just exactly what is 'an illegal immigrant'?

[piston]

"Mexican Repatriation"(sic) part 2. Exploit them during periods of prosperity and deport them during hard times.

[Ralph]

How many great Americans were born abroad of American parents? Did something enter their soul at birth? And what extactly is a "soul?" Is it a religious concept? Or does it relate to understanding soul music and soul food?