Immigration (both legal and illegal) and the American culture are very important topics which should be discussed by all Americans. The very future of our country will be determined by the answers we obtain. I have blogged previously about these issues (Illegal Immigration - The Modern Flood, and I Have a Plan to Destroy America), and my position should be easily discernable — I’m pro legal immigration, and for the American culture, not some multicultural blend. Events taking place in France even as I write this (see FOXNews.com) attest to the folly of allowing a secondary culture to rise counter to the existing culture in any country.

Due to the complicity of our government — both Parties, and at all levels — the American culture is in disarray. However, maybe our leaders are at last getting a clue about what should be done about this problem.

Last Friday, The Washington Times reported that the GOP, through a task force participating in “unity dinners” is trying to figure out where consensus exists on the immigration issue. They also report:

“There is a general agreement about the fact that citizenship in this country should not be bestowed on people who are the children of folks who come into this country illegally,” said Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican, who is participating in the “unity dinners,” the group of Republicans trying to find consensus on immigration.

Birthright citizenship, or what critics call “anchor babies,” means that any child born on U.S. soil is granted citizenship, with exceptions for foreign diplomats. That attracts illegal aliens, who have children in the United States; those children later can sponsor their parents for legal immigration.

This has long been a sticking point with me — the fact that if an illegal alien has a child in America, that child is automatically a citizen of our country. News to me was the fact that these children can later sponsor their parents for legal immigration.

Tancredo is right — citizenship should not be conferred on the children born of illegal aliens in this country. However, there is a pretty big obstacle to overcome: the United States Constitution. Even writing those words made a chill run down my back, because I do not see our Constitution as an obstacle to overcome — I see it as a blueprint on which to build a country. I work in an office capacity for construction professionals, and I know what “change orders” can do to a job. I also know what work contrary to approved blueprints can do to a job.

The 14^th Amendment begins: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This is pretty plain language, and being a Conservative, I’m a plain language kind of guy. That’s why even though I want illegal immigration dealt with by ejecting those here illegally — no hearing, no attorneys, no anything but eviction — it bothers me that those “unity dinners” are talking about subverting the Constitution:

Most lawmakers had avoided the issue, fearing that change would require a constitutional amendment — the 14th Amendment reads in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

But several Republicans said recent studies suggest otherwise.

“There’s been recent scholarship that says we can do it by statute, and we ought to try,” said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican, who usually finds himself on the opposite side of immigration issues from Mr. Tancredo.

The “scholarship” in question is not referenced, so one can only guess as to what it might entail. I would imagine that it might have something to do with the “subject to the jurisdiction of” phrase in that amendment, but that’s pure speculation on my part.

At any rate, Conservatives need to keep a close eye on this one. To be true to our cause, we cannot support “judicial activism” any more when it favors us than when it doesn’t. Let’s keep our honesty intact.

UPDATE: Fred at Fred Columns has an excellent piece on the problems France is currently facing and why they’re facing those problems. Anyone who doesn’t see a parallel between France today and the USA tomorrow needs to open their eyes and let the sun shine in.

This has been a production of the Guard the Borders Blogburst. It was started by Euphoric Reality, and serves to keep immigration issues in the forefront of our minds as we’re going about our daily lives and continuing to fight the war on terror. If you are concerned with the trend of illegal immigration facing our country, join our blogburst! Just send an email with your blog name and url to kit.jarrell at gmail dot com.

Open trackbacks at StoptheACLU.com, Political Teen, Mudville Gazette, and Stuck on Stupid

TD