Illegal Immigrants

One of the most significant wordings ever used in the Constitution was in the Fourteenth Amendment where it states that: "all persons born.. in the United States are citizens.." By the literal interpretation of this, children of illegal immigrants are citizens. As such, neither they nor their parents who are supporting them, can be deported. Others argue that this was never the intention of those who worded the Amendment. At the time, it was used to free the slaves and it accomplished this goal. However, they argue that this was the only goal of the Amendment and it was not meant to be used like this. Furthermore, every year, our government spends $45 billion to support illegal immigrants through education, welfare, and other support programs. Until the Supreme Court is presented with a case involving this and rules on which interpretation is the correct one, this issue will continue to be a hot topic.

Jon's Opinion The Constitution was designed to be flexible. That's why we as a nation have amended it 27 times. In this case, the Fourteenth Amendment is allowing illegal immigrants, who have no respect for the law, to get welfare and education benefits for free. If we changed part of the Fourteenth Amendment with another Amendment, the problem would be solved; billions, yes BILLIONS of dollars would be saved in police, welfare, and education expenses. We should exclude illegal immigrants and their children born on U.S. soil from citizenship. If a house is infested with ants, you don't put out fresh watermelon on the kitchen table; you call the Orkin man.

Alan's Opinion Illegal immigrants deserve our attention and aid. They need our help to survive in the world. After all, the statue of liberty even says: "give us your huddled, tired masses, yearning to be free." People more deserving of our aid and help in attaining a life of their own, full of promise and the freedom to better theirselves, I have not seen. The children of these immigrants should be considered citizens. The wording of the Fourteenth Amendment was not a mistake. In the Constitution, there are no mistakes (except for that "department" in the Twenty-Fifth Amendment that should read "departments"). The authors of the Fourteenth Amendment knew what they were doing and gave considerable time ad thought to the wording of the amendment and the possible outcomes of such choices. There is no mistake, only a cover-up, denying the proper rights and privileges from those well deserving of them.