OPINION:
Birthright citizenship, established by the 14th Amendment to our Constitution, has outlived its utility (“Supreme Court declines invitation to broaden birthright citizenship,” Web, Oct. 17). Its original purpose was to grant former slaves citizenship, not to accommodate the selfish motives of birthright tourists and undocumented immigrants.
The numbers are daunting: According to the Pew Hispanic Center, approximately 7.5% of all births in the country (about 300,000) are to the unauthorized, and more than 4 million such children have received citizenship via birth in the U.S. Under present law, upon reaching the age of majority anchor babies can bring their extended families here in order to obtain permanent residency/citizenship and qualify for our entitlement programs — despite having not paid into them.
This issue is consequential and proper fodder for our immigration discussion. Perhaps the time is ripe for a constitutional amendment.
PAUL BLOUSTEIN
Cincinnati
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