Re: “14th Amendment wasn’t about immigrant citizenship,” Sept. 3 guest commentary.
Former Congressman Tom Tancredo. (Daily Camera file)
Tom Tancredo claims that the 14th Amendment is being applied inappropriately to children born to foreign tourists, foreign students, and illegal aliens. He also writes that any legislative repeal by Congress would be tested in court, but it is not absurd to say that the challenge is worth undertaking.
Although the amendment was written to give rights to former slaves, the language of the first sentence of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment is unequivocal: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and the state wherein they reside.”
Since it does not list any mitigating circumstances, it is very unlikely that a legislative repeal by Congress would survive a court challenge. Such a repeal would require nothing less than a constitutional amendment. Personally, I hope that never happens.
Mitchell Brodsky, Denver
This letter was published in the Sept. 10 edition.
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