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Repealing or rewriting the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution will do little if anything at all to resolve the pressing and very complex issue of illegal immigration in this nation.
The 14th Amendment, of course, guarantees citizenship to any person born on U.S. soil. It was adopted in 1868 in the aftermath of the Civil War and following the emancipation of slaves to assure a uniform, national standard of citizenship.
Sadly, and with a significant election approaching in November, a growing number of politicians are signing on to the 14th Amendment issue in an obvious effort to curry favor with an emotionally charged electorate that is stirred up over the issue of illegal immigration. But really, how will keeping the children of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil from becoming citizens do anything substantial to resolve the issue of illegal immigration? Besides, in view of what's required to amend the Constitution, the prospects of actually changing the 14th Amendment are slim at best.
As has been said many times, the only reason illegal immigration continues to be such a hot-button issue is because of the unacceptable failure of Congress to do its duty and pass comprehensive immigration reform. That, in KSL's view, is where the politicians this election season ought to be focusing their attention.
