Senator Graham to Challenge Birthright Citizenship?

Once a supporter of immigration reform, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) last week announced that he is considering the introduction of a constitutional amendment eliminating birthright citizenship.  For details, see Andy Barr’s article on Politico.com.

Graham apparently is moving in the direction of political winds blowing in states like Arizona, in which a legislator recently proposed the denial of birth certificates to the children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States.  I previously have detailed the constitutional problems with this approach.

Senator Graham does habve one thing right, however.  To change the current birthright citizenship rule, a constitutional amendment — not a simple act of Congress — would be necessary.  This would take many years and face many hurdles.

KJ