Abusing the 14th Amendment to Beat Trump & Birthrights for Anchor Babies?
A U.S. judge on today blocked President Donald Trump’s order limiting birthright citizenship. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order that prohibits the Trump administration, at least for now, from enforcing the order, which Trump signed hours after taking office on Monday. The judge remarked: “This is blatantly unconstitutional order.”
Yet here is another problem. Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington state have brought this case in one of the worst liberal states in the country where they knew they would get the decision they wanted. It is known as forum shipping – another serious legal abuse of power. So here we have four state seeking to use a LEFT-LEANING state to impose their dictatorial view upon the entire nation. This stands in contrast to the very power to amend the Constitution and the mode of exerting it are dealt with in Article V, which reads:
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“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress: Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article, and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.”
The inconsistency here is that we can amend the Constitution and it need not be unanimous. Still, then all states must comply with the will of the majority – not very democratic. Yet, here, four states can effectively abuse the Constitution and a LEFT-LEANING state to force their will upon the whole, which cannot even be done by amending the Constitution.
Only 33 countries currently offer unrestricted birthright citizenship, mainly in the Americas. However, people do not line up at their borders to enter and give birth there since they do not offer free healthcare and housing as Biden did. Other countries place restrictions, usually requiring one parent to be a citizen already, often referred to as jus sanguinis (the right of blood). Jus soli (“right of the soil”) permits citizenship based on the land in which the child is born.
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The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) estimates that at least 300,000 children are granted birthright citizenship in the US, composing 7.5% of all births annually. It is estimated that this costs taxpayers over $2.4 billion annually. This data was collected before Biden opened the borders. Illegal migrants may receive benefits on behalf of their birthright or anchor baby. Taxpayers pay at least $6.7 annually just on Medicaid for these children. Legal migrants are not afforded these rights, and Trump is correct in saying there is an incentive to enter illegally since the government provides funding.
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The 14th Amendment no longer holds true for its original intent. America is broke — we cannot afford to sustain our own citizens or infrastructure, and the migrant crisis has become a massive burden on taxpayers. What is the answer? Shall we hold the 14th Amendment to its original intent or allow prosecutors to manipulate the words to score victories?