The legislation would preserve the “sanctity of American citizenship.”
Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would end “unqualified” birthright citizenship for children of parents who are not U.S. citizens.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution grants citizenship to all “born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Passed in 1866, shortly after the Civil War, the amendment was meant to ensure citizenship and equal rights for former slaves.
Congressman Gaetz said the “End Birthright Citizenship Fraud Act of 2023” would restore the original intent of the 14th Amendment’s “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause. “Birthright citizenship has been grossly misapplied for decades, recently becoming a loophole for illegal aliens to fraudulently abuse our immigration system,” he stated. He added that his bill shows “American citizenship is a privilege — not an automatic right to be co-opted by illegal aliens.”
In discussing how birthright citizenship has been abused, Representative Gaetz said approximately 33,000 births occur annually to women on tourist visas, and “hundreds of thousands more” are born to undocumented migrants or those on temporary visas, “many of whom have misrepresented the purpose of their trip to avoid scrutiny.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Representative Gaetz as he endeavors to bring the practice of the 14th amendment in line with its intent.
- For discernment for members of the House as they consider the immigration reform legislation.
Sources: The Hill, The Center Square
