Tennessee takes up resolution supporting Trump's views on ending birthright citizenship

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A Joint-Resolution debating the natural citizenship of persons born in the country to parents who immigrated illegally is up for debate in the Tennessee House.

A Tennessee lawmaker wants the state to issue a resolution supporting President Donald J. Trump's views on ending birthright citizenship.

At the heart of the resolution and debate over birthright citizenship are six words in the 14th Amendment.

Section I of the 14th Amendment states: '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.'

"And subject to the jurisdiction thereof," are the six words President Trump has called into question, saying the phrase does not cover those born here to parents whom entered the country illegally.

In a tweet on October 31, 2018, Trump stated "So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many legal scholars agree....."

However, among those who disagree include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) which issued their own response to the president. ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project director Omar Jadwat stated in October “The president cannot erase the Constitution with an executive order, and the 14th Amendment's citizenship guarantee is clear. This is a transparent and blatantly unconstitutional attempt to sow division and fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms.”

Now, one Tennessee lawmaker wants a House Joint Resolution showing support for the President's stance. Representative Bruce Griffey (R-Paris), is the sponsor of HJR0047 which states "illegal immigration is of major concern to the majority of citizens of the State of Tennessee, as it threatens the security and safety of all United States citizens and legal residents and has become a huge financial burden on state and local taxpayers."

Griffey's resolution also cites the President's October statements, adding -if passed- the resolution would "honor and salute" Trump's initiative.

The resolution adds it "hereby honors, commends, and salutes the initiative of the President of the United States, the Honorable Donald J. Trump, to protect the citizens of the United States, to protect the borders of our great nation, and to end the illegitimate, unauthorized, and illegal practice of bestowing citizenship to those born within the boundaries of our great country whose presence constitutes a violation of United States law and breach of the sovereignty of this Nation."