Yesterday’s blog (see below) announced our Constitution Day theme:  Who are citizens?  Should the 14th Amendment to the Constitution be amended, as some politicians demand, to eliminate “birthright citizenship,” a phrase that means that persons now born in the United States are automatically U.S. citizens regardless of the citizenship of their parents?

I invite members of the Trinity community to participate in the dialogue.  Here are some replies:

“This proposal to end “birthright citizenship” sounds like a sophisticated attempt at ethnic cleansing.  Any proposal to amend the Constitution should be rooted in extending the rights of those who live on American soil; it should not be used to “de-nationalize” persons whose circumstances, race, ethnicity, whatever are deemed undesirable by a few self-serving politicians.  No matter how they arrive, once immigrants land here they are often extremely productive members of society who are seeking to access the American Dream.  As an immigrant whose niece is a first generation American by birth, I would hate to see her rights repealed by a movement that not only lacks compassion for humanity but is also based on a narrow field of historical context and present day application.” (Eva Morgan, Assistant Director of Academic Advising, College of Arts & Sciences)

“I disagree with the proposal to change the fourteenth amendment because, being a daughter of Hispanics, I feel as if it is not right. We all struggle in life and just because we have parents who are immigrants or are not born in this country, it is not right to take away the birthright citizenship. If it written in the fourteen amendment then, it is there for a reason. Discrimination has to stop! We all deserve to be happy.  … Let’s just say, it’s not right. Just stop with all this discrimination and live happy.  We have to keep the amendments.  It is not fair to change the amendment because one man has hatred against all immigrants…”  (Yessenia Torres ’19, Nursing)

“There should be no name calling as to who is a citizen or immigrant. I say this because everyone in the USA are descendants of those who came here and technically they  “immigrants”. The only ones who are native here are Native Americans. If America can use immigrants to work fields or make products for America or supply food, they should be allowed here. The fact of the matter is most illegals come here to work and have a better life. They do have babies while they are here since they are humans like the rest of us.” (Michelle Murphy ’16, Criminal Justice)