Bill Would Block Automatic Citizenship
Written by Marcey Brightwell,
Reporter
News10.net
Northern California Congressman Dan Lungren is backing a controversial bill that could have a dramatic impact on U.S. citizenship laws. The Folsom Republican says he wants to block automatic citizenship for babies born to illegal immigrant mothers on U.S. soil.
“If citizenship is to have true meaning, someone with no allegiance to the United States should not be able to lay claim to it on behalf of their offspring,” Lungren said in a written statement.
Lungren is one of 90 Republicans who've signed on to HR 1940, legislation that seeks to end automatic citizenship for newborns of illegal immigrants.
He says it's a debate worth having, considering an estimated 400,000 babies are born in the United States every year to illegal immigrant parents. Those babies receive automatic U.S. citizenship rights.
But the plan is not expected to get very far in the Democrat-controlled Congress. Democrats across the country oppose the idea.
“It's absurd and it's embarrassing,” said California State Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata. “I'd like to say I'm shocked but nothing in politics shocks me anymore.”
You can click here to read a transcript of our Live_Online conversation with Rep. Lungren on Wednesday, September 12.
