Duncan Hunter: Deport Illegal Immigrants' Kids

(AP)  Rep. Duncan Hunter said he would support deporting U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants, adding that "it takes more than walking across the border to be an American citizen."

The San Diego-area Republican congressman spoke Saturday at a video recorded tea party rally in Ramona. Hunter was asked by someone in the crowd if he backed deporting natural-born American citizens who are the children of illegal immigrants.

"I would have to, yes," Hunter said.

Hunter said in the video that some of his critics believe his stance is mean-spirited.

"And we're not being mean. We're just saying it takes more than walking across the border to become an American citizen," he said. "It's what's in our souls."

The 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to all persons born in the United States.

Hunter's spokesman Joe Kasper said Thursday that the congressman's position is that U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants should stay with their parents unless there is a legal guardian who could take care of them.

"It was a short answer to a complex issue," Kasper said. "His terms have been very specific on this topic and it wasn't reflected in the answer."

Hunter's comments on Saturday were recorded and posted on YouTube. Kasper said the event was open to the media and reporters were there.

Hunter also supports a House bill that calls for the elimination of automatic birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants. It is unclear whether the bill would be constitutional.

Hunter supports a recently signed Arizona law, which requires local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally. He called the law a "fantastic starting point."

More Coverage of the Immigration Debate:

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2 Lawsuits Challenge Immigration Ariz. Law
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Obama: Congress May Not Tackle Immigration Soon
Pelosi: Immigration Reform Would Require "Presidential Leadership"
Fury over Immigrant Law
Will Other States Follow Arizona's Lead on Immigration?/a>
City Councils Mull Ariz. Boycotts Over Immigration Law
Washington Unplugged: Politics of Immigration Fight

[elizabeth3166]

Anyone born here should be a citizen, even if they're just here on vacation!
By the way I found a website that give you prizes for your opinions here is the topic about this:
http://opinion.ezwingame.com/topics/should-children-of-illegals-born-in-the-us-be-citizens

[AreYouHighrWhat]

This isn't a Democrat/Republican issue, we're all American citizens first. Amnesty isn't going to happen!
Spin the issues all you want, project YOUR race based issues onto your opposition, offend the Jewish population by comparing people coming here illegally to the genocide they faced, riot in the streets, and scream insults at the American population; at the end of the day it won't change anything!

At best you can hope Americans don't run pro-criminal voters (probably "progressive") right out of our electorate. This isn't a party issue, don't let Democrats trick you into thinking it is, they don't even have enough support in their own party, and the LGBT crowd has abandoned THEIR idea of "Illegal Immigration Reform" We don't reward criminals and nobody is gonna get Amnesty for breaking the law. NOBODY! The "path to citizenship" and "humane enforcement" lines are crap too, criminals that have been emboldened to cheat our system for years don't get "fast-tracked" to citizenship. The people trying to come here legally certainly aren't going to like being "line jumped" by people breaking the laws they so patiently observed. We aren't the monsters for enforcing our laws, they are the monsters for coming here illegally and in some cases procreating and making families that now carry their burden, THEY ARE THE MONSTERS! If I sneak into a concert at the Gorge, when I'm caught I don't get taken to the front of the entry line, and the amount of time I've been inside the event has nothing to do with my removal, unlawful entry is unlawful entry!

Amnesty isn't going to happen! Sorry if you don't like it, but too bad, build a bridge, get over it, and start immigrating here legally like all the other generations of Americans.

Smooches,
Gay Urban Hipster in Seattle

[tsigili]

I agree, entirely. Being able to walk across the border, illegally, and get free medical care to have a baby, should NOT entitle that baby to US citizenship. Period.

[klgrube1]

Thank you, Congressman Hunter, for supporting our Constitution and our borders. As my Congressman, your stand on this issue is one I completely support.

Citizenship is a privilege granted to those who choose to immigrate to this country legally. We have laws describing the steps to citizenship for legal immigrants. The rights of citizenship should not be granted to those from other countries merely by their presence within our borders. To do so totally disrespects the work and effort made by legal immigrants to earn their citizenship.

I just don't think most people understand the tremendous toll illegal immigration takes, especially on border states like California, Arizona and Texas. If you don't live here, you just don't hear about all the kidnappings and violence coming from illegal immigrants, especially in Phoenix which has the world's second-highest kidnapping rate.

Please, keep working to protect our borders! And once again, THANK YOU!

[velma179]

klgrube1 -- You obviously picked the correct person to represent you. Neither of you support the Constitution. How can you support something that you choose to ignore... if it suits your opinion on a matter.

Please read the document and learn, pay special attention to The Fourteenth Amendment's Section 1.

Thank you and please become more informed before you vote for another person who has not read or understood our founding documents.

[Dgunner]

This is nothing more than the illegals using our laws against us. When the constitution was written the people writing the constitution didn't think the US government would ever become so weak as to allow this to happen.We never hear of any south koreans defecting to the north because it is a dictator ran country.It is becoming more present to the american people and the world that we are weak in enforcing our own laws and are laughing at us world wide.

[BigMykul]

Since the Constitution has and can be admended, by a 2/3 ratification of the states, why not rewrite (admend) it on the 14th admendment.

Citizenship can only be granted to a child born in the US if one or both of the parents is a citizen or in the process of becoming one.

[1renegade]

I see a few posts by some of you that aren't even in the U.S. Many of you are Canadian by your own admission. We also need to close the northern border also since Canadians are the fourth largest group of illegals crossing the U.S. border. Many of you have told us how great you have it there. Doesn't sound so great to me. Eh?

[bradkt1]

Duncan: are you going to start by deporting Michele Malkin?

[snoopyjy]

quote "The 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to all persons born in the United States" it does not apply to all persons born in the United States... only those subject to the laws i.e. diplomat's children.

[Zann-Zel]

Now let me get this straight - the Republicans in Arizona want to tackle immigration because Washington won't. But the Republicans in Washington don't even want to discuss it.

We've got a problem here. : (