PHOENIX, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A new anti-immigration law has been introduced in Arizona, one that would deny automatic citizenship to all children born in the United States.
State Rep. John Kavanagh, one of the measure's sponsors, told CNN he believes "birthright citizenship" comes from a misinterpretation of the 14th amendment. The amendment was adopted after the Civil War to guarantee citizenship and legal protections for former slaves.
The citizenship clause reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
"If the meaning relates to sole allegiance, the children of illegal immigrants naturally owe their allegiance to their parents' country and not the United States," Kavanagh said in an interview Friday. "Dispensing citizenship like a door prize even to people who snuck into the back door is poor policy and greatly increases the costs of educating, medicating and giving other benefits to the children of illegal aliens born here."
Kavanagh said if the measure passes he hopes a court fight will clarify the 14th amendment. The bill was introduced Thursday.
