Oregon - GOP platform at odds with 14th Amendment

A resolution adopting the Oregon Republican Party platform of stripping certain U.S.-born children of their citizenship had constitutional scholars scratching their heads Monday -- and its author admitting that his resolution is more symbolic than realistic - The Oregonian

According to The Oregonian:

The platform would deny citizenship to babies born on U.S. soil to illegal and legal immigrants who are not citizens.

Which according to Constitutional scholars, directly contradicts the 14th Amendment;

which states that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The odd thing to me about the contradiction is the contradiction making the "persons born" "subject to the jurisdiction thereof." They aren't subject to the jurisdiction if nothing is actually done about those skirting our immigration laws; nothing is being done about it. Yet adopt a most entirely symbolic resolution to further fire up debate and those opposed just guffaw.

The resolution was drafted by chairman of the Wasco County Republican Party, Jim Lehman. His intent was to

encourage Congress to enforce the 14th Amendment as it was intended to apply to newly freed slaves. The framers, he argued, did not intend for it to be used by illegal immigrants who want to stay in the country.

Charles Hinkle, a Portland attorney and constitutional expert said of the resolution:

"It's one of the stupidest resolutions ever passed. It's sort of like passing a resolution about the free speech clause, saying it applies to everybody's free speech but yours."

Well, no it isn't "sort of like." It's about trying to make change, it's about abuse of our laws and our politicians abuse of their obligation.

Amy Langdon, the party's executive director said:

It was "more of a statement to let people know where we stand."

The article in the paper at this point goes from reporting to editorializing with:

Across the country, cities and states have taken up legislation hostile to undocumented immigrants.

Hmmmmmm..........hostile?

The example given is the ordnance passed in Hazelton, PA:

The Illegal Immigration Relief Act (which) fines landlords for renting to undocumented tenants and requires public documents to be written in English.

Oh the hostility!!!!

Are you ready for this? Ramon Ramirez, president of Oregons farmworkers and tree planters union called the platform:

"a slap in the face of the Latino community. It's exacerbating xenophobia in the broader community and they're making immigrants scapegoats."

I'm confused. Is it a slap in the face of the Latino community, immigrants, Latino immigrants or Illegal Immigrants? I guess all of them, especially when no one is considered "illegal." However, I think the slap in the face has been this nations lax efforts at enforcement of our laws.

Story unmolested by me, here...

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.