On the first day of the 112th Congress, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) of the House Immigration Subcommittee introduced the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011, H.R. 140, which would amend “the Immigration and Nationality Act to consider a person born in the United States ‘subject to the jurisdiction of the United States for citizenship at birth purposes if the person is born in the United States of parents, one of whom is: (1) a U.S. citizen or national; (2) a lawful permanent resident alien whose residence is in the United States; or (3) an alien performing active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.” With the Congressional balance of power now in the hands of those who favor tighter immigration controls, the Birthright Citizenship Act (introduced in previous years by former congressman, and current governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal) is a front-page national immigration story — and a source of great confusion for the journalists who cover it. Here are just a few of the recent gaffes made by reputable papers. (more)
A loophole in our nation’s laws is being exploited and consequently costs American taxpayers $5.63 billion annually at the federal level. What is worse, this same loophole costs state and local taxpayers much more. In my home state of California, taxpayers are paying $8.3 billion this year for this ongoing problem. This is at a time when the Golden State has a $20 billion budget shortfall. (more)
The Supreme Court today ruled in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment’s “right to bear arms” does indeed apply to the states. In the 5-4 decision (with Justices John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy in the majority), the court essentially reinforced the ruling in the D.C. v. Heller case two years ago, which declared Washington D.C.’s gun ban unconstitutional. Stephen Breyer was joined by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and John Paul Stevens in dissenting. (more)
The lead sponsor of Arizona’s tough immigration law passed in April said he will pursue a new law that would restrict children of illegal immigrants born in the United States from obtaining citizenship — and his opposition is taking notice. (more)
Anyone born on American soil is an American. (more)
Two years ago, the Supreme Court decided in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms. But the Second Amendment, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, only applies to the federal government, so yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in McDonald v. Chicago. McDonald will determine whether the vast majority of Americans who live in the states share the same gun rights as District residents. (more)
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