They Write Letters

From today's SLO Tribune:

Children’s citizenship
I have long believed the United States needed to define more clearly who was a citizen of this country. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution gives a broad sweep: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

Perhaps this was enough in 1776, [emphasis added] but it no longer is sufficient. Granting citizenship to children of noncitizens presents a real problem when trying to deport illegal immigrants.

It looks like Arizona may be able to do what our elected officials have failed to do for a long, long time (“Arizona lawmaker’s next target: the children of illegal immigrants,” June 16).

Surely it makes sense that at least one parent of a child born in the United States be a legal United States citizen for the child to become a citizen. It makes no sense to grant citizenship to children born in the United States of noncitizen parents. Go! Go Arizona!

Hugh Robinson
Nipomo

The 14th Amendment, for those who care, was ratified in 1868. Here's the real scoop.

Read the comments at the paper's link for a real laugh.