Opponents of any move to repeal birthright citizenship in the US have new ammo. A study shows that a move like this would simply increase the numbers of undocumented workers in the US.
According to the researchers, repeal of birthright citizenship would mean more numbers of undocumented workers because these people will continue to have babies who would not be eligible for citizenship. Under current laws, any child born on US soil, either to a legal resident or an undocumented worker, is a US citizen. However, in these testing political times, some lawmakers have been fiddling with the idea of repealing birthright citizenship altogether. According to them, the lure of automatic citizenship for their children is the reason why large numbers of Mexican women cross the borders illegally every year. It's all part of a grand plan to deliver their babies here, and avail of welfare and other benefits.
Immigration advocates and New Jersey immigration lawyers have found these claims to be highly offensive and discriminatory. Besides, there have been studies to indicate that there is no credence to these theories either. There is no massive exodus of pregnant women from across the border, and much of this is mere fear mongering. Some state lawmakers are even considering withholding birth certificates from undocumented workers, until the 14th amendment of the Constitution, which includes the birth citizenship clause, is amended.
Fortunately, it's not easy to amend the U.S. Constitution to suit everyone's whims and fancies. It is highly unlikely that the 14th amendment will be amended or repealed, but that doesn't mean that we can afford to sit back and let the fear mongers spin their tales.
