Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) outlined his support Wednesday to modify the 14th amendment. Smith joins a chorus of Republicans to eliminate the provision that gives citizenship to any person born inside the U.S.
By Terry Gildea, Texas Public Radio
Smith is among a growing number of Republicans who are in favor of modifying the 14th amendment of the Constitution and changing the provision that endows citizenship to any person born inside the U-S.
“That has been misinterpreted today,” Smith told small business leaders in Northeast San Antonio. “So that basically it’s allowing individuals who are in the country illegally to have a child and the child is automatically a citizen. That just doesn’t make any sense for any reason. We’re the only industrialized country in the world I think that doesn’t require at least one parent to be in the country legally before their child is automatically a citizen.”
Smith said congressional Republicans are crafting what they call a Commitment to America, that will outline for voters issues they want to fix. The plan is expected to be rolled out sometime in September.
