Jus Soli

There is no small discussion about whether the Jus Soli method of citizenship should be discontinued. Many people say it would be impossible but let me suggest that it isn’t and that it should be halted.

There are currently three methods of obtaining citizenship in the United States of America: Jus Soli or Right of Soil meaning to be born on soil that is considered part of the United States; Jus Sanguinis or Right of Blood meaning that one or both of your parents are already U.S. citizens; and the third is through the naturalization process where you legally enter the country become a permanent resident and, after a period, apply for U.S. citizenship. You pass the citizenship test and a judge administers an oath of allegiance and voila, you’re a citizen. This also applies to accepted asylum seekers, another process that needs to be reviewed by Congress.

Jus Soli has and is currently being abused. Every illegal alien in the United States gives birth to a U.S. citizen. Every tourist who gives birth in the U.S. produces a U.S. citizen. Every non-diplomatic member of a foreign embassy, consulate or United Nations office produces U.S. citizens. Every one of these “new” citizens then has the rights and privileges pertaining to citizenship and this creates tremendous strain on the system both in terms of overseas applications for immigrant visas and adjusting the number of immigrants by country. Many countries have what are called Tourist Birth programs where they arrange temporary visas for tourism or other reasons so that the pregnant person gives birth while in the United States. This, in itself, is illegal since airlines are supposed to refuse boarding to pregnant women who might give birth during their visit.

By removing Jus Soli and requiring a blood connection, the country will have better control over the number of new citizens and the legal and economic problems caused by an infant citizen and the rest of their family wishing to remain in the U.S. will go away. It will also remove numerous individuals from national and local welfare programs meant solely for and funded by citizens of the U.S. As for permanent residents, children born after arrival but before naturalization would receive citizenship with their parents. This process would be much more fair for true immigrants. For example, if only twenty percent of the twenty million illegal aliens, who have entered the country in the last four years, have only one child you have another four million people with whom you must share natural resources. If they have two then you have eight million more and so forth. While the largesse of the American taxpayer might be boundless, the natural resources of land, water, housing, educational opportunities, etc are not. Already the West is embroiled in court battles of water rights between farmers and developers. Rivers that used to run deep to the ocean are now small trickles. Our inner cities already overflow with people who cannot afford the living costs and require government assistance. Our schools have temporary classrooms shoved into the nook and crannies of the original architecture and we do not have the language resources to deal with students who speak more than fifty different languages.

Getting rid of the Right of Soli birthright will stop much of this from happening. Yes, come to our country, enjoy what we have to offer but go home when your permitted residence ends. And should you give birth during your visit please take the newest young citizen of your country home with you.