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Lou Dobbs Tonight -- CNN -- November 20
Wian: The Texas state legislature
is considering a law to deny welfare and other benefits to the
American citizen children of illegal aliens.
John Colyandro:The specific goal
is to raise the debate about the question of birthright citizenship.
Does the fact of a person's birth on the soil of the United States,
even if the parents of that individual are illegal immigrants,
qualify that person for all the benefits and privileges of citizenship?
Wian: Sponsors hope it will lead
to a Supreme Court review of the 14th Amendment passed in 1868
to ensure citizenship to former slaves. Today it's widely interpreted
as a guarantee of citizenship to virtually anyone born in this
country.
The 14th Amendment states, "All
persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject
to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States."
Some border security activists say the words "subject to
the jurisdiction thereof" exclude the children of illegal
aliens, because they're also citizens of their parents' country.
  Watch  Transcript |
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