8.08.2010

And Another Thing That Won't Make You Happy

Story.
The 14th Amendment: All persons born . . . in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside . . . .

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what do we do, deport the parents and pay for raising the kids, or let the parents stay and pay for raising the kids plus the parents.

Anonymous said...

This would not be a problem at all if those children were parented, educated and became productive citizens. At least then the tax burden and economic drain caused by their parents might be offset over time. Unfortunately, for some reasons Mexicans see becoming an American a whole lot differently than Germans, Irish, English, Scottish, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, Russian, Polish, Egyptian...and so on...

Anonymous said...

Your Tax Dollars at Work!

Just the beginning!

Rascals

Anonymous said...

If something had been done to stop the illegals from staying here, then they wouldn't have had their babies here! So, just because we didn't stop them before, and we are in a quandry about what to do with the current PROBLEM because of that.....are we supposed to just do NOTHING and think the problem will go away??

Something has to be done to stop this craziness! These people do NOT pay income taxes! WE pay for them!! I'm sick of doing that! I have my OWN family to care for and I ACCEPT that responsibility for my family!

Anonymous said...

As a teacher in this area, I can say that most Hispanic children are hard-working, polite, lovely children. I don't know who's legal and who's not, although through circumstances, there are always a few that I find out don't have legal parents, but so far, everyone one of those kids are kids that will be great representations of Americans, in my opinion.

In my experience - & I have experience with the children & parents every year for the last 12 or 13 years - these are very good people, with the occasional exception, just like in all groups of people.

I don't think there is any need to change the constitution now.

Anonymous said...

14th Amendment should be changed. In virtually every other developed country, the baby takes the nationality of the mother.

Anonymous said...

Just one clarification: being a "non-citizen" does not make one "illegal". However, the problem exists - what do we do with the families of babies born here? The Constitution gives the baby citizenship but not the family however extensive it might be.

wordkyle said...

At 16% of births in Texas, it's a large enough percentage that if one considers the illegal alien issue a problem, the anchor baby phenomenon should be addressed.

And caring for illegal immigrants is a problem. In California’s Los Angeles County, the medical system has been basically bankrupted. The Department of Health runs a $1.2 billion deficit. According to a DoH official, “Caring for illegals is siphoning money from other services and forcing clinics, trauma centers and emergency rooms to close.” About two million illegal aliens in LA County alone go to emergency rooms because they can’t afford to see a doctor. Sixty percent of the county’s uninsured patients are not U.S. citizens, and half of them are illegal immigrants. Last year the county paid $340 million to treat these people; that’s about $1000 for every taxpayer. Legal residents are denied treatment because of lack of resources, while money is taken out of their pockets to pay for the treatment of those who use up the resources

Anonymous said...

I have found most of the Mexicam illegals to be much harder working than immigrants fromother countries.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to Justice Brennan.

Anonymous said...

I take pride in my ability to think like an educator with the mindset of a taxpayer. This is the origin of my frustration with things as they are!

Anonymous said...

I love how Republicans talk a big game about protecting the constitution at all costs......but then.....this issue comes up. LMAO

Anonymous said...

I just worry about my grandchildren!

Anonymous said...

11:16 -
Actually most of the DO pay income tax, all of them pay sales tax; and some pay property tax.

IRS issues them a tax number; most pay income tax because they don't want to get into trouble for not paying taxes.

IRS & INS (Immigration) intentionally do not exchange information because if they did, there would be little hope of the illegals paying taxes. This policy goes back decades.

A very good story in Texas Monthly called "My Life as an Illegal" is a very good read if you are interested in seeing it from the the side of the illegal immigrant's.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2006-07-01/feature2

Anonymous said...

This is America!

All you clowns are immigrants!

Most of you were not legal according to the residents who were here first.

Think about it !

Reality Bites!!!!!!!

wordkyle said...

421 - Like many other things in the Constitution, the Fourteenth Amendment has been stretched and abused beyond the original intent. Its citizenship clause was written to codify the citizenship of freed slaves (as was the earlier Civil Rights Act of 1866.) Further back, the Naturalization Act of 1790, even with its admitted flaws, explicitly emphasized the importance the Founders attached to residency: "the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States...."

The abuse of the law is palpable. You can read the story here of how border clinics and hospitals are cratering under the burden of anchor babies and their mandate to treat everyone who goes to their emergency rooms.

"Immigrants "want a U.S.-born baby" and know that emergency room staffers don't collect any money up front, said Dr. Mario Rodriguez, an obstetrician in Starr County. "The word is out: Come to Starr County and get delivered for free. Why pay $1,000 in Mexico when you can get it for free?"

Anonymous said...

Exactly 6:17.

The constitution was meant to be a document that would adapt to times. Interstate commerce, regulating air traffic, Interstate highways, paid army, air force, navy, etc., railroads, waterways, dams, national parks - all things that were not around in 1787 - but fortunately the document can adapt to changing times. Maybe that's why it's the reason that our constitution is the oldest written one still in practice.

It was intentional that the 14th amendment did not say it was only speaking of former slaves when it said anyone born or naturalized in the US was a citizen.............because it wasn't speaking only of them. It meant exactly what it said - anyone born or naturalized in the US was a US citizen.

Many who seem to worship the Constitution only do so when it can fit their political agenda.

Anonymous said...

I say we sue Mexico for reimbursement.

Anonymous said...

We also pay for the deliverly of theese children.A lot of them pay income taxes in another persons name that they have assumed.If they get their green card they can file for their returns later as well as having theie social security transfered to their own name.One who worked for my wife in thr decatur school system quit her job an did not marry the father so our medicade would pay for her child.DAGO

Anonymous said...

It does not matter how hard working they are or how nice their children are and "most" do not pay taxes sales tax is not charged on their star card, the bottom line is the word ILLEGAL

Darrel said...

Most pay taxes and FICA. They can not collect Social Security or get food stamps. The do use some health benefits but not much because they try to stay below the radar. They are helping pay my Social Security.

My Grandfather was born in Germany and I can't find where he was ever naturalized. That would mean my Father was not a citizen and I am___oops! Never mind! Forget I said anything.

Anonymous said...

I think the only reason anyone would think the constitution should be changed is because they believe the problem can't be fixed by using the laws already on the books.

I vote "no" to a constitutional change.

I vote "yes" to kicking illegals out and only letting them back in when the follow the rules.

Anonymous said...

Here's a question. If I am a pregnant American citizen and I go into another country...water breaks and ooops..baby comes early. Baby is born in another country! Now what? Is my baby not now a legal American citizen? Will it be an illegal when I return to America? Is the baby automatically a citizen of the other country?

Anonymous said...

6:17, you are incorrect. MOST Americans are not immigrants but were born right here. Maybe our ancestors from years and years ago were immigrants. However THEY went through the proper procedures to become legalized citizens here. Legal and proper. That's not what illegal means! Get it now?

wordkyle said...

834 - The debate over the Fourteenth Amendment when it was written acknowledged concerns by some Senators that the country would be overrun by "foreign overpopulation." That concern was brushed aside with the remark that foreigners wouldn't take advantage of it. Yet that is the very thing that is happening today. (By the way, the Fourteenth Amendment is knows as one of the "Reconstruction Amendments" for a reason.)

The ways to change the Constitution are spelled out in the document itself. What is specifically not listed as a way to change it is by judiciary fiat.

It should be remarked that this entire discussion would be moot if the federal government simply enforced its own laws. There is room for a lot of discussion if the feds have the "only" authority to fulfill a function, yet refuse to do so.

Anonymous said...

Throughout history people have migrated and cultures have changed. The Aztec now speak the Spanish language and so will your grandchildren.

Anonymous said...

There was a TV show the other day - I think 20/20 or something like it and the host went with the migrant workers (all illegal) & tried to do a days work with them harvesting crops. It was brutal.

The guy paying the migrants said that he had tried and had never been able to get anyone that wasn't an illegal to do this hot, back-breaking work.

There are something like 12 million illegals here. It is estimated that illegal immigrants fill a quarter of all agricultural jobs, 17 percent of office and house cleaning positions, 14 percent of construction jobs and 12 percent in food preparation.

If they all mysteriously vanished right now, what do you think would happen to our economy? We would feel their loss to the workforce and feel their loss to the marketplace. They do jobs that no one else wants to.

Anonymous said...

I was born in America along with my parents.
I have a hard time paying my bills, but I do.
I have health insurance,
I buy my groceries at 100+ a week.
I had to pay out of pocket 3000 for my child to be born last year, I now spend 250 bucks a month on formula.
I recently overheard a girl about my age laughing at people like me.
She (illegal) had her child at the same hospital. Never paid a dime.
gets food stamps at 400 bucks a months.
WIC provides her child with free formula every month also.
She does not work and does not pay her bills.
I pay them for her.
Something doesnt seem right here.

Anonymous said...

WK -
14th Amendment - you are reaching to specific discussions about the amendment. Nevertheless the Amendment says what it says - anyone born in the US is a US citizen. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. You don't have to do any interpretation to comprehend that because the WORDS SAY IT. It is not judiciary fiat to say those words mean what they say.

Yes former slaves were the immediate beneficiaries, but if they would have wanted it to apply only to them, it would have said so. As you know, the process of amending the constitution is a long, laborious task, with people at all levels of gov't having to agree with the amendment by super-majorities.

ANd since this amendment was written in the late 1860's and since it is in the CONSTITUTION, it overrides the earlier laws you mentioned.

Anonymous said...

The feds will not regulate the undocumented immigrants because large corporations...meat, roofing, farming, hotels, etc... will work hard to keep their cheap labor. It is employment that bring these people, they are hard working people.
The health care in all countries with socialized medicine, (which is most industrialized countries) will care for emergencies but clinic care you have to prove residency... I always find this a funny conversation for Texans. Much of our cultural has a mexican influence and most of the people I know in Texas benefit from cheap labor. Up north a maid for 4 hours work (white chick) cost me $150. When I lived in Texas $60. Take a walk through Highland Park one morning....those people getting off buses in their maid outfits, those men driving up in a broken down truck, provide lots of services for the wealthy...It will be humorous to see who fills those jobs, and how many wealthy people claim amnesty for their nannies, maids, gardeners!

Anonymous said...

8:38 - You make great points.

Anonymous said...

All persons born . . . in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside . . . .

ok look at the statement: (and subject to the jurisdiction thereof)They are not subject because they are here illegaly why am I the only one who sees this?

wordkyle said...

827 - You are absolutely correct. The Constitution says what it says. The Constitution prescribes the rule of citizenship by circumstances of birth. ("Jus soli." It's interesting what you find when you research these things.) The abuses I mentioned earlier tie in with a Supreme Court decision ( United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 1898, if you're interested.) The court designated citizenship applied to persons "whose parents have a permanent domicile and residence in the United States." Those who cross the border merely to have an American citizen baby would not benefit, if this ruling were properly enforced.

As I said earlier, we shouldn't even have to have this discussion.

Anonymous said...

Irish and German immigrants were key supporters of the 14th Amendment in the 1860s because it would give their children citizenship as a birthright.

I'm sure none of you who want to change the 14th Amendment now after immigrants of all backgrounds have gained citizenship by its terms are not of Irish or German heritage. Because if you are . . . you are most likely a citizen by virtue of the same provision of the 14th Amendment you now want to change. Ironic? Hypocritical?

Anonymous said...

8:18, you lie. My son is anglo, attends college and mows grass in the August heat to help pay his way through college. If businesses such as homebuilders were punished and their assets confiscated for hiring illegal labor then a lot of Mexicans would head back to Mexico and the construction industry would have to hire Americans. Yes, they would have to pay higher wages and you parasites living in your 2,000 square foot mcmansions would have to downsize to 1,500 square feet for the same price you paid for the larger house. Unemployment rates would drop. Then, instead of two people showing up at our hospitals for free medical care (the unemployed American carpenter and the underpaid illegal) there would be only one at most. By the way, there is no free medical care and Wise County Regional does not provide free medical care for illegals. Those of us who carry health insurance pay for them through inflated medical charges and inflated health insurance premiums. So, we are also indirectly paying for your 2,000 square foot mcmansion because we are paying for healthcare for the people who built it.

I hate hospitals that pat themselves on the back and say they provide free services. As I pointed out about, you and I pay for those who are unable to pay. And the the hospitals ask me to donate blood so they can exchange it for gold.

CT said...

Wise Regional does have indigent care programs.

Anonymous said...

thanks barry for publishing my post.... i speak the truth....

Anonymous said...

illegals pay sales tax. the money stream used to pay property taxes in any given county comes, in part, from illegal immigrants from mexico (in other words if you are a slum lord and rent to illegals, you pay the property tax on the house, but the money comes from the wetbacks). they dont pay federal income tax, but at their income level, the lost federal tax revenue is miniscule compared to the entire U.S. budget. so the way i see it, they should be able to get the indigent care at our county hospitals. if the folks at wise regional dont like it, well, i guess they should start looking at other business models.

the illegal/legal immigrant status thing is a government concern. to me, however, i ought to be able to whoever i want, at a wage agreed to between myself and my employee, without big bro forcing ME to enforce THEIR laws.

i guess if it came down to it, i would rather have big house and eat cheap food than live in a country that has a tough immigration policy.

Anonymous said...

There was an illegal arrested over the weekend and incarcerated at the wise co. jail, Ruvalcaba. Charged with DWI II. He and his brother both illegal and deported previously but hes back.
How come he is out and no immigration hold was placed?
Follow this case in you COUNTY LAW and see if he shows up for court!
What is the policy with the Wise County Sheriffs Department, or does anyone even care???????????
It is our tax dollars at work arresting these people and letting them go.
Inquiring minds want to know...