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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) issued the following statement on his new bill, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023 (H.R. 6612). This legislation has 21 original cosponsors and will ensure America properly implements Section 1 of the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution – ending birth tourism.

“For a period following its enactment, Section 1 of the 14th Amendment was properly applied as written and intended: to ensure all American citizens were afforded the sacred constitutional protections they deserve,” said Congressman Brian Babin, House Border Security Caucus Co-chair. “While these important protections remain, in recent decades, the misapplication of specific language in the amendment has led to the implementation of the practice of birthright citizenship by which children born to foreign nationals – from illegal migrants to tourists to refugees – are automatically granted United States citizenship. Birthright citizenship has long served as a powerful incentive for illegal immigration, and, over time, has become wrongly accepted as law, with supporters claiming it is guaranteed by our Constitution. Birthright citizenship is enabled by faulty legal application, and ending the practice by clarifying eligibility is a necessary step toward fixing our broken immigration system and stopping the continued exploitation of America’s generosity. We must act to put an end to this misguided policy that has fueled the worsening border crisis and weakened our national sovereignty for far too long. I appreciate my colleagues’ support of this important bill and hope to move it swiftly through the House of Representatives.”

“We must protect the integrity of our legal immigration system and not permit loopholes to be exploited,” Congressman Bob Good (VA-05). “I thank Rep. Babin for his leadership in introducing the Birthright Citizenship Act, which prevents birth tourism and safeguards the 14th amendment of the Constitution.”

“Every year, thousands of migrants enter the country illegally and give birth knowing their children will reap the benefits of their parents’ lawbreaking — the rights, privileges, and immunities of U.S. citizenship,” said Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21). “It’s time to end this unfair, extraconstitutional practice that incentivizes illegal border crossings. The Birthright Citizenship Act — which I am proud to cosponsor with my friend and fellow Texan, Brian Babin — ensures children born in the U.S. to illegal alien parents do not automatically receive American citizenship.”

“The expressed distinction of United States citizenship is a gift that is too often taken for granted by the American people,” said Congressman Byron Donalds (FL-19). “As a result of Joe Biden’s disastrous mishandling of our nation’s borders, the United States has descended into an unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis, in which illegal aliens are systematically exploiting our legal immigration system through the explosion of birth tourism. Simply put, birthright citizenship should only be reserved for United States citizens, legal permanent residents of the United States, and legal immigrants serving in the United States military.”

“This bill closes the citizenship loophole that has incentivized millions of illegal migrants to flood our southern border,” said Congressman Bill Posey (FL-08).

“The United States is one of the only countries in the world to allow an immigrant to enter the country illegally, including tourists, have a baby, and then deem that child an American citizen,” said Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06). "At a time when our Southern border is overrun with over 200,000 illegal immigrants every month, this flawed interpretation of the 14th Amendment has been exploited to drive even more illegal immigrants to the country and take unfair advantage of essential services that are meant for legal citizens. It is time for the U.S. Congress to work together to strengthen and encourage legal migration rather than continuing to turn a blind eye to the lawlessness that is destroying America from within.”

“The Fourteenth Amendment is a critical protection that is being abused by illegal immigrants,” said Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01). “This bill preserves the intent of the constitution and ensures that those who want to be U.S. citizens go through the legal process.”

“This legislation keeps our immigration law consistent with the Framers’ original intent by closing an outrageous loophole that incentivizes and rewards illegal immigration,” said Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02). “This past year, illegal immigration cost American taxpayers $150 billion – an inexcusable burden that’s fueled, in part, by the current birthright citizenship scheme. I’m glad to see this bill introduced, which will fortify our immigration system and rectify a flawed interpretation of the 14th Amendment.”

To read the bill text, please click here.

To read the Daily Caller’s exclusive on the bill, please click here.

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