(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Perhaps the most controversial executive order President Trump has signed thus far is the one ending birthright citizenship, which was immediately challenged by several “blue” state attorney generals in the courts. These states attorney generals’ argument is that birthright citizenship is a right granted to anyone born on American soil, by the 14th Amendment. But does it?

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, paragraph 1, reads in part: “All citizens born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the state wherein they reside.”

“Liberal” attorneys and the fake news often quote that part of the 14th Amendment and deliberately omit the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,’ because that phrase does not promote their perceived agenda.

According to the original penners of the 14th Amendment, that clause refers to citizens expressing allegiance to the U.S. and U.S. only and no other country. Immigrants illegally entering the U.S. are not expressing allegiance to the U.S., but showing contempt for our laws. Thus, birthright citizenship doesn’t apply to their children born here.

Caravans with thousands of migrants were shown on the TV newscasts, marching through Mexico on route to the U.S., waving the flags of their native countries, while mocking U.S. immigration laws.

The intent of that clause in the 14th Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, was granting citizenship to freed slaves, annulling the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1858 Dred Scott decision, which ruled, in essence, no person of color could ever be an American citizen, even if born on American soil.

Applying the 14th Amendment to the children of immigrants is a “modern” interpretation of the amendment. Had this interpretation been included in the amendment originally, it would never had been ratified by a majority of the states.

Birthright citizenship will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court and none can say how they will rule. If they rule birthright citizenship is legal for children of immigrants, Trump will undoubtably begin the process for passing a 28th amendment to end birthright citizenship for the children of immigrants.

As long as current birthright citizenship laws remain in effect, they serve as a magnet to draw illegal migrants to the U.S.

Steve Wolverton

Parkersburg