Sen. Mike Lee (R) on Sunday criticized NBC News' “Meet the Press” and anchor Kristen Welker for omitting six important words from the 14th Amendment.
When speaking with President-elect Donald Trump about his plan to abolish birthright citizenship, which grants U.S. citizenship to people born on U.S. soil, Welker cited the first sentence of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. tried to suggest that the plan was unconstitutional.
'[Meet the Press] By selectively omitting important words from the Constitution, it appears that they are trying to make a controversial issue incontrovertible. ”
After President Trump confirmed that it was “absolutely” Trump's plan to abolish birthright citizenship, Welker said, “But the 14th Amendment says, “Everyone born in the United States “is a citizen,” he said.
But Lee said there are serious problems with Welker's citation.
In fact, Mr. Welker omitted six words from the first sentence of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment, and those “words are important,” Mr. Lee said. explained.
The beginning of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment actually reads: say:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and who are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are nationals of the United States and the state in which they reside.
This is because Welker omitted the phrase “and subject to the jurisdiction” to create the illusion that President Trump would be acting unconstitutionally if he tried to outlaw birthright citizenship. means.
But, according to Lee, that critical language gives Congress the power to define what that means, and thus the power to regulate birthright citizenship.
“Congress has the power to define what it means to be born in the United States and under its jurisdiction,” Lee explained. “Although current law does not include such a restriction, Congress may in the future exclude individuals born in the United States who are natural-born citizens, up to undocumented persons, who are “born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.'' “We could pass a law that defines what that means.''
Importantly, Lee pointed out that Congress has attempted to regulate birthright citizenship in the past.
For example, in 1993, then-Sen. Harry Reid (D) proposed a bill called Birthright citizenship would be limited to children whose mothers are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. In the end, this bill was not passed. But it shows Congress is fully aware of its ability to regulate birthright citizenship, Lee said.
In the end, Mr. Lee criticized NBC and Mr. Welker for their “one-sided” reporting and explained why he believed Mr. Welker omitted a key provision of the 14th Amendment.
”[Meet the Press] By selectively omitting key words from the Constitution, they seem to be trying to make a controversial issue uncontroversial, even though the 14th Amendment prohibits any restrictions on birthright citizenship. “It falsely appears to be the case,” Lee said. said.
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