GOP Senate nominee Rand Paul opposes US citzenship for children born to illegal immigrants
By ROGER ALFORD , Associated Press
Last update: May 28, 2010 - 4:40 PM
Paul, who a week ago won the GOP primary, told a Russian TV station in a clip circulating on political Web sites Friday that he wants to block citizenship to those children.
"We're the only country I know that allows people to come in illegally, have a baby, and then that baby becomes a citizen," Paul told RT, an English-language station, shortly after his win over GOP establishment candidate Trey Grayson. "And I think that should stop also."
Legislation dubbed the Birthright Citizenship Act was introduced in the House last year seeking to prevent citizenship to babies born to illegal immigrants even though the 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. More than 90 lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors.
Paul told the TV station that partisan politics may be at play in not stopping illegal immigration.
"I'm not opposed to letting people come in and work and labor in our country," Paul said. "But I think what we should do is we shouldn't provide an easy route to citizenship. A lot of this is about demographics. If you look at new immigrants from Mexico, they register three to one Democrat, so the Democratic Party is for easy citizenship and allowing them to vote. I think we need to address that."
Immigration advocates criticized Paul's stand on Friday as immoral.
"That's a very extremist position," said Manuel Perez-Rocha, a spokesman for the liberal Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies. "It comes at a very bad moment in history because it tends to polarize debate on immigration when it's most needed that both parties come to their senses so they can have serious discussion on the subject. It's immoral. It lacks compassion."
Campaign chairman David Adams said Friday that Paul stands behind his statements
By ROGER ALFORD , Associated Press
Last update: May 28, 2010 - 4:40 PM
Paul, who a week ago won the GOP primary, told a Russian TV station in a clip circulating on political Web sites Friday that he wants to block citizenship to those children.
"We're the only country I know that allows people to come in illegally, have a baby, and then that baby becomes a citizen," Paul told RT, an English-language station, shortly after his win over GOP establishment candidate Trey Grayson. "And I think that should stop also."
Legislation dubbed the Birthright Citizenship Act was introduced in the House last year seeking to prevent citizenship to babies born to illegal immigrants even though the 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. More than 90 lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors.
Paul told the TV station that partisan politics may be at play in not stopping illegal immigration.
"I'm not opposed to letting people come in and work and labor in our country," Paul said. "But I think what we should do is we shouldn't provide an easy route to citizenship. A lot of this is about demographics. If you look at new immigrants from Mexico, they register three to one Democrat, so the Democratic Party is for easy citizenship and allowing them to vote. I think we need to address that."
Immigration advocates criticized Paul's stand on Friday as immoral.
"That's a very extremist position," said Manuel Perez-Rocha, a spokesman for the liberal Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies. "It comes at a very bad moment in history because it tends to polarize debate on immigration when it's most needed that both parties come to their senses so they can have serious discussion on the subject. It's immoral. It lacks compassion."
Campaign chairman David Adams said Friday that Paul stands behind his statements
