WASHINGTON — Two Republican-sponsored proposals that would remove citizenship rights of U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants and require citizenship checks before voter registrations are approved were sharply debated before a House panel on Wednesday, drawing strong opposition from the Clinton Administration.
Both issues, which already have created passionate and legal arguments on either side, offer little room for compromise as the bills begin winding their way through the House.
For the Record
Los Angeles Times Friday June 27, 1997 Orange County Edition Part A Page 3 Metro Desk 2 inches; 44 words Type of Material: Correction
Immigration bills--A story Thursday about a House debate over two bills intended to limit the rights of illegal immigrants misstated a provision of the bill sponsored by Rep. Steve Horn (R-Long Beach). Horn's proposal would allow election officials to check the citizenship status of people registering to vote.
Proponents testified before the House Immigration subcommittee that birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants places immense financial burdens on states such as California that draw immigration-law violators. Also, they said, reforms are needed to fix lax voter registration rules that allegedly undermine the integrity of election results.
Opponents argued that both bills infringe on voting and civil rights. Denying automatic citizenship to U.S.-born babies whose parents are not citizens or permanent resident aliens would counter a basic constitutional guarantee, they argued.
And those speaking against the stricter citizenship checks for prospective voters said the law would intimidate voters and lead to discrimination against ethnic minorities, including citizens.
A central issue in the debate over birthright citizenship is the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." The amendment was approved after the Supreme Court denied citizenship to African Americans following the Civil War.
"To claim that you can have the right of automatic citizenship is absurd," maintained Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-San Diego), who is sponsoring the Citizenship Reform Act. "The Supreme Court has never ruled on the children of illegal aliens getting automatic citizenship."
Bilbray said that granting citizenship rights for children of illegal immigrants is "rewarding those who have broken the law." About 16% of all births in California each year are to illegal immigrant mothers, the congressman said.
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Pointing to the millions of dollars in welfare payments in California alone that are going to parents of these children, San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater testified: "We have encouraged generations of people to come to America, not out of loyalty or a sense of belonging, but instead, for money and benefits."
