New Bill Would Deny Rights To U.S. Citizens

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The words above are from Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. They are the law of our land. But evidently, some Texas legislators don't believe in the Constitution.

Rep. Leo Berman [R-Tyler] has filed a bill for the upcoming session of the new Texas Legislature. His bill would deny a U.S. citizen born of illegal immigrant parents the right to public education, healthcare, unemployment, public housing, disability, and other benefits provided by the state of Texas.

Berman believes that denying these American citizens their constitutionally-guaranteed rights, would stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States. He seems to think that illegal immigrants come to the U.S. just to have babies. The idea is ludicrous and untrue.

Legendary congresswoman Barbara Jordan probably put it best when she said, "People come to this country because they want jobs. They don't come to have babies." She was right.

Denying rights to U.S. citizens won't stop the immigrants from coming any more than building a fence on the border will. There is only one way to stop the illegal immigration -- crack down on the businesses that employ them. As long as the jobs are available, the immigrants will come to fill them. When the job opportunities disappear, so will the illegal immigration.

Berman's bill is not only unworkable and unconstitutional, it is racist. I don't hear him, or anyone else, worrying about Canadians having "anchor" babies in this country. No, his bill is aimed directly at Mexican immigrants. He should be ashamed of himself.

If the Texas Legislature was serious about controlling illegal immigration, they would deal with the businesses that employ them. But the business lobby in Texas is very powerful, so that cannot happen.

It is easier to build fences and pass unconstitutional laws. It won't solve the problem, but it gives voters the illusion that legislators are trying to solve the problem. If the voters believe the illusion, and many do, then the legislators will be re-elected, and that is all they're trying to do.

Far too often, illusion substitutes for reality in the Texas Legislature.