Birthright citizenship repeal would fuel rise in undocumented, think tank finds
Contrary to claims by proponents that ending birthright citizenship would deter illegal immigration, the size of the undocumented population in the U.S. would soar if current proposals became reality.
A new report by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute has calculated the effects of repealing automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented parents. The population living illegally in the United States would swell from an estimated 11 million to 16 million by 2050, the report concludes. The report from the Washington, D.C.-based think tank projects an even larger increase under different scenarios. If citizenship were denied for children even with at least one parent legally in the country, the unauthorized population would climb to 24 million by 2050. Although denying citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants has been talked about for years, heated immigration rhetoric is giving momentum to a proposal in Congress to modify the 14th Amendment. The proposed Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009 would eliminate citizenship by birth for children who don't have at least one parent living legally in the country. Sponsored by former Rep. Nathan Deal, a Georgia Republican, the proposed legislation has 93 co-sponsors. House Republicans have expressed a desire to take it up for a vote. Citizenship by birth was enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution to give citizenship and rights to former African slaves. But promoters of ending birthright citizenship question whether the 14th Amendment was intended for a population that didn't exist in the U.S. when it was enacted — specifically, whether U.S. born children of undocumented immigrants are "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States.
A constitutional amendment would require approval by two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. Sponsors of the Birthright Citizenship Act contend that Congress could act legislatively without the need of an amendment. The institute's report "clearly demonstrates that, if we repeal birthright citizenship, we'll take an immigration system that's broken and essentially demolish it," said Rosalind Gold, senior director of policy, research and advocacy for the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. "Not only is repealing birthright citizenship is not a solution, but it will make the challenge worse." A recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center found that about 340,000 of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 were to undocumented immigrants. Proponents of repealing birthright citizenship cite the costs of rearing and educating these children as reason to revoke their rights. But ending citizenship would only create an underclass, critics say. "This idea will continue to disenfranchise the community and drive it further into the shadows," said Annabelle Rodriguez, project manager of the Alisal Community Healthy Start in Salinas, which serves a large immigrant community. "We're opening doors wide open for exploitation, a shadow economy and human trafficking. People come here not for citizenship, but looking for work." Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or cmelendez@montereyherald.com.