Matt Gaetz proposes bill to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants

On Tuesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) announced that he would be introducing legislation aimed at preventing children of illegal immigrants from automatically receiving citizenship simply for being born in the United States.

Every year in the United States, nearly 400,000 "anchor babies" are born and automatically declared American.



Gaetz's legislation seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to "reform United States immigration law to be consistent with the [14th Amendment's] original meaning by denying automatic citizenship at birth to children born in the United States to parents who are not United States nationals, aliens lawfully admitted to the United States as refugees, aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or aliens performing active service in the United States Armed Forces."

The 14th Amendment originally stated that "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."

In his argument supporting an end to birthright citizenship, Gaetz cited a number of politicians involved in the 14th Amendment's writing and adoption.

One of the key figures, Senator Lyman Trumbull, argued that the term "subject to the jurisdiction" of the US included the stipulation that individuals were "not subject to any foreign power." Gaetz went on to note that the 14th Amendment was created to apply to newly freed slaves, who had already been lawful permanent residents.

He pointed out that the United States was one of only two "developed nations" that grant birthright citizenship, and argued it provides an incentive for people from around the world to enter the country illegally and have children to anchor themselves, and reap the benefits the US has to offer.

"Millions of illegal immigrants have at least one child who is deemed a citizen under the erroneous interpretation of the 14th Amendment," Gaetz added, lamenting the rampant "birth tourism" taking place across the country.

Under the new legislation, only children of US nationals, refugees, or legal immigrants would be given citizenship at birth.