House Speaker Mike Johnson has called for Congress to restrict birthright citizenship, citing the practice of ‘birth tourism’ as a threat to national security and the rule of law. In a recent Fox News interview, Johnson stated that the current immigration system is being abused by individuals who travel to the United States solely to give birth and obtain U.S. citizenship for their children.

Background

The issue of birthright citizenship has been a topic of debate in recent years, with some arguing that it is a magnet for illegal immigration and others claiming that it is a fundamental right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court recently struck down an executive order by President Donald Trump that sought to redefine who is an American, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. writing that children born to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily in the United States satisfy the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment.

Johnson’s comments come as Republicans are exploring ways to address the issue of birthright citizenship. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, and Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, introduced legislation last year to ban birthright citizenship, which acknowledges the right of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment but narrows the definition of persons who are ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the United States.

Birth Tourism

‘Birth tourism’ refers to the practice of parents traveling to the United States to give birth, with the goal of obtaining U.S. citizenship for their children. The number of babies born to birth tourists in the U.S. is highly disputed, with estimates ranging from 2,000 to 39,000 annually.

While some argue that birth tourism is a significant problem, others claim that it is a marginal issue. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has called it a ‘blatant abuse of our immigration laws,’ while Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, has said that it is a ‘pretty marginal issue.’

Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.