RACISM
‘Why Even Have the Statue of Liberty?’: Internet Blasts Lindsey Graham for Bill to End Birthright Citizenship
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has just announced he will introduce a bill that allegedly would end “birthright citizenship,” as it’s called, which allows children of undocumented immigrants, along with anyone else, born in the U.S. to automatically be a U.S. citizen.
Tuesday morning news broke that President Donald Trump has decided (incorrectly) he can change the U.S. Constitution and effectively line-item veto away the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born on American soil.
He cannot.
Most constitutional scholars, along with the U.S. Supreme Court – twice – have declared the 14th Amendment, and birthright citizenship, settled law.
President Trump lied in an interview with Axios, claiming America is the only country in the world that grants citizenship to anyone born in the country. Thirty countries, at least, including Canada and Mexico, grant citizenship to those born within its boundaries.
(The U.S. exempts foreign diplomats from being granted citizenship automatically.)
Late Tuesday morning Senator Graham tweeted, “Finally, a president willing to take on this absurd policy of birthright citizenship.”
He added:
The United States is one of two developed countries in the world who grant citizenship based on location of birth.
This policy is a magnet for illegal immigration, out of the mainstream of the developed world, and needs to come to an end.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 30, 2018
That’s false, and unfair to those nations he claims are undeveloped.
On social media, some questioned why Senator Graham is so fixated on the 14th Amendment being in line with other countries, and not, for example, the Second Amendment, or U.S. policy on healthcare. Other just expressed outrage, and some just flat-out called him a racist.
If we are going to do what the rest of the developed world does why not start with healthcare and gun reform?
— Kenny Morgan (@gkmorgan2) October 30, 2018
First: not true. It’s much more. Second, as a “Nationalist” why would you care what other countries do. This whole thing is so creepy and shameful.
— emily nunn (@EmilyRNunn) October 30, 2018
OH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NORMS FOR DEVELOPED COUNTRIES NOW? COOL, LET’S TALK ABOUT MATERNITY LEAVE AND UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
oh wait no it seems like you only care about norms for developed countries when it involves taking rights away from people https://t.co/zLVch9kD9l
— Eliza, But Make It Spooky (@ElizaEatonStern) October 30, 2018
Lindsey Graham is a racist https://t.co/S0AZW5MVD5
— Amber D 🧜🏼♀️ (@Amberdofrose) October 30, 2018
We’re also outliers regarding healthcare, guns, incarceration, and the metric system but I don’t hear you bitching about that. https://t.co/2ae9vbdYyQ
— Halloween-Themed Pseudonym (@sbe1976) October 30, 2018
Since when do you care how the developed world does things? Healthcare…gun control…education? Fine cherry picking
— Chrissy H (@CrissyGolightly) October 30, 2018
We are also one of only two developed countries in the world that has the death penalty. Do you support outlawing that nationwide by presidential fiat?
— Ryan Paige (@ryanpaige) October 30, 2018
The United States is one of the only countries in the world who allows all citizens to be armed without question.
This policy is a magnet for crime and murder, out of the mainstream of the developed world, and needs to come to an end. https://t.co/v5VvwiLwIc
— Jacob Head (@JHead1984) October 30, 2018
It’s not a policy. It’s the Constitution. pic.twitter.com/73bCXZFndO
— Romancing the Nope (@RomancingNope) October 30, 2018
Lindsey Graham: Obama’s DACA executive order is unconstitutional
Lindsey Graham: Trump using an executive order to literally override the Constitution is a GREAT IDEA! pic.twitter.com/W9MJTYLZTF
— 👻low voter turnout💀 (@JordanUhl) October 30, 2018
While we’re looking to the rest of the developed world, how about eliminating the death penalty? Or recognizing DC and Puerto Rico as states so that their citizens can participate meaningfully in political life? https://t.co/cl50hholxe
— Milan Markovic (@ProfMarkovic) October 30, 2018
Senator Graham, Do you understand how our Constitution works? Have you read it? Specifically the 14th Amendment. Do you really want to start dismantling it? What about 1st and 2nd Amendments. You don’t get to pick and choose the parts of the Constitution you like. It not a buffet https://t.co/GnMYIcwsF1
— Chris Belmont (@ChrisBelmont9) October 30, 2018
if this is the stance of one of our major parties why do we even have the statue of liberty https://t.co/yzcXKNY5YO
— Brandon Jonely 🌹 (@Aldowyn) October 30, 2018
Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license
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