Amid Immigration Debate, Democrats Battle GOP Over Fourteenth Amendment

The Hill: Senate Democrats pushed back Tuesday against Republican demands to change a part of the 14th Amendment that grants U.S. citizenship by birthright to children of illegal immigrants. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and GOP Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) have called for hearings on the amendment, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has called for elimination of the provision. “It’s outrageous,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). “To target children on this makes no sense. It’s the Constitution. It’s what we’ve done our entire lives. It’s all about politics and Republicans trying to gin up their base. It’s one of those distractions that just puzzles me.” “The Republicans have to decide if they only like one amendment, which is the second,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), referring to the right to bear arms. “I happen to like all of the amendments. They just seem to like only the second one.” Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said a change would introduce a dangerous precedent of tying citizenship to political beliefs.