Thoughts versus Emotions on Immigration

                Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when we control our emotions and think clearly.  Our nation is going wild with the “emotional thinking” taking place; it does not seem to matter what the topic is because people think with their feelings rather than their thoughts.  Parents and grandparents can do something about this trend by teaching their children and youth to think until they see the truth clearly and not let themselves be ruled by their emotions.

                One such area where emotions have run all over thoughts is with illegal immigration:  We can’t send them all home, we can’t split up families, they are only here to provide for their families, etc.  The radical elements of both the Democrat Party and the Republican Party - those who are far-left and/or progressive – have lied to Americans for generations about illegal aliens or undocumented immigrants.  They believe that Americans will believe them if they tell big enough lies and do it long enough.  The support for Donald Trump and the uproar in the news about illegal immigration show that many Americans do not believe the lies.  More and more Americans are now involved in educating themselves about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  More and more Americans understand what the Fourteenth Amendment really says.  I like to see Americans opening their eyes and their minds to see what is really happening in our country.

                Tim Dunkin wrote a well-researched and thoughtful article entitled “The Children of Illegal Immigrants Are Not Born American Citizens” in which he lays out facts to support the title.

                “The crux about which the discussion revolves is the Citizenship Clause found in the 14^th amendment, Section 1, `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.’

                        “More specifically, what is at issue is the phrase, `and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.’  Clearly, the clause was not intended to convey American citizenship to an unlimited pool of children born to aliens on American soil.  If this had been the case, then the phrase under discussion would not have been included.  Obviously, some limits were intended, those circumscribed by the intent of being `subject to the jurisdiction thereof.’

                “So what were those limits?  Typically, it will be pointed out that the limits due to this jurisdictional issue were that citizenship was not being conveyed to children born of ambassadors and other aliens employed by their foreign governments, nor was it being conveyed to members of various Indian tribes which exercised sovereign powers within their own territories (this latter was rescinded by an act of 1924 which granted Indian tribes full American citizenship).  Were these the only restrictions on birthright citizenship intended by the author and debaters of the 14^th amendment?

                “No, actually.  Let’s understand what the original intention of the 14^th amendment was, which was to grant American citizenship to former black slaves and their children, and to prevent these newly freed citizens from being denied citizenship rights by certain of the southern states.  That’s it.  This was made clear by Sen. Jacob Howard, who authored the amendment in 1866, who clearly provided the intent for this section of the amendment, `Every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is, by virtue of natural law and national law, a citizen of the United States.  This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.  It settles the great question of citizenship and removes all doubt as to what persons are or are not citizens of the United States.  This has long been a great issue in the jurisprudence and legislation of this country.’

                “Clearly, other classes of foreign citizens were intended besides the children of ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel.  Indeed, Howard’s statement appears to be quite all-encompassing – if taken at face value, it would appear that he did not even intend the 14^th amendment to grant citizenship to the children of foreign nationals here legally, much less to those here illegally….”

                Dunkin includes other quotes and much information to prove his point that children of illegal aliens are not automatically U.S. citizens – even though the Mexican government sends threats to Texas and anyone else who refuses to grant them birth certificates.  I do not believe this topic will go away soon.  The goodwill of the American people has been used and abused for too long, and we demand that our elected officials represent the will of the American people and not the will of those who come to our nation illegally.

                Illegal immigration is just one area where our children need to be taught the truth and helped to think with their minds and not their emotions.  The future of the United States of America depends on parents and other trusted adults to help the rising generation learn to seek the truth and think about the consequences rather than just “feeling” empathy for an underprivileged class, a group of people who have broken the law to be in America and insist that Americans give them what they desire.  When we teach our children and grandchildren to think clearly, we can strengthen our homes, communities, and nations.