WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Sunday Congress should consider changing the Constitution so citizenship is no longer a birthright.
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," Boehner said the 14th amendment guarantee of citizenship to those born in the United States provides an "incentive" for illegal immigrants to come to the country so their children can be U.S. citizens.
"To provide an incentive for illegal immigrants to come here so that their children can be U.S. citizens does, in fact, draw more people to our country," Boehner said.
As for changing the 14th amendment, he said: "Listen, I think it's worth considering. ... It's time for us to secure our borders and enforce the law and allow this conversation about the 14th amendment to continue."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other lawmakers also have called for review of the 14th amendment guarantee of citizenship to those born in the United States. Like Boehner, other opponents say it encourages illegal immigration.
