08/15/2010
Chinese-American Republican Charles Djou, a Congressman from Hawaii, calls Birthright Citizenship a "GOP Achievement" in the WSJ. His parents were (legal) immigrants to Los Angeles, and he thinks abolishing birthright citizenship is a bad idea."The 14th Amendment is one of the crowning achievements of the Republican Party. Following the Civil War, the 14th Amendment guaranteed due process for every person under the law and helped to reunite a fractured nation. It pains me to think that we may start tinkering with this fundamental fabric of our union.Notice that Djou believes a solution to the illegal immigration problem should be one that expands legal immigration.The problem of illegal immigration is a difficult one, touching deeply held beliefs and emotions. But the president and both parties in Congress have a responsibility to engage in a good-faith effort to reach a consensus on an approach that enforces the law, expands legal immigration, and closes the door on illegal immigration.
In the midst of this complex debate, I have faith that the same political process that created the 14th Amendment can produce sound immigration policy that respects our borders and the people who cross over them. I have faith that "We the people" will ultimately move us closer to a "more perfect union."
Birthright Citizenship: A GOP Achievement | It is unrealistic to believe that we can fix the immigration problem by amending the Constitution., By Charles Djou, Wall Street Journal, August 14, 2010. (Subscriber link — try clicking through here.)
But I was struck by the phrase "the same political process that created the 14th Amendment." I don’t want to go all neo-Confederate on you, that’s not my thing, but as an amateur of history, I happen to know that the "political process that created the 14th Amendment" was a bloody Civil War, 600, 000 deaths and a military government in the South. It wasn’t until the Federal Government backed off on some of that that the "fractured nation" became reunited. (see Paul H. Buck’s 1937 book, The Road To Reunion 1865-1900.)
I don’t think that political process is going to work today.
In any event, it is not necessary to amend the Constitution — Congress could pass laws making it clear that the US Government doesn’t recognize the wrong-headed interpretation of the 14th Amendment, and refuse to allow illegals to steal citizenship for their children. That would be a GOP achievement.
This is a content archive of VDARE.com, which Letitia James forced off of the Internet using lawfare.