[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, on January 3, 2001, I introduced H.R. 190, 
legislation to deny citizenship to the American-born children of 
illegal aliens.
  The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, ``all persons 
born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are 
citizens.'' The federal government interprets this to grant automatic 
citizenship to the children of illegal aliens born in the United 
States. I believe this is a gross misinterpretation and that there is 
no constitutional requirement to confer citizenship to the U.S.-born 
children of illegal aliens. Illegal aliens cannot be subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States because they are in the United States 
without legal authority.
  Mr. Speaker, few can dispute that the practice of granting automatic-
birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens is a great 
incentive for illegal immigration. Citizen children qualify for welfare 
and other social services, thus illegal parents receive benefits. This 
raises serious concerns about the use of public assistance by 
individuals illegally present in the United States. According to a 1997 
General Accounting Office report, in FY95 about $1.1 billion in Aid to 
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Food Stamp benefits were 
provided to households with an illegal alien parent for the use of his 
or her citizen child. There can be no mistake that the citizenship 
grant has significantly contributed to our unprecedented levels of 
illegal immigration. According to some figures, an estimated 165,000 
children are born to illegal aliens in the U.S. annually.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that those individuals who actively defy the 
laws of the United States by illegal entry or overstaying the terms of 
their entry should not have the cherished constitutional right to 
confer citizenship upon their children. As Members of Congress, we have 
an obligation to ensure that our borders are protected and our 
immigration laws are followed. Accordingly, I strongly urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 190 to end this injustice.

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