Birthright Citizenship Joins Part Of Overall Conversation

National Journal: Ending the Constitution's birthright citizenship won't stop illegal immigrants from crossing the border and it could cause major logistical problems for American parents in U.S. delivery rooms. But lawmakers and analysts agree that the Constitution's citizenship guarantee for all babies born inside U.S. borders now will be part of any conversation about changing the immigration system. "I've been asked by a lot of constituents, 'Why do we have this practice?' And I don't have a good answer to that. I just don't think it makes sense to continue," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has championed legislation to help illegal immigrants earn green cards and toughen security at the border. Recently, Graham said policymakers should consider changing the automatic citizenship given to all babies born in the United States, a move that some immigrant advocates viewed as a radical shift in his thinking. Graham insisted on Tuesday that nothing has changed. "It has to be looked at in terms of an overall solution to immigration. I'm not saying, 'Change the Constitution. That fixes the problem,' " he said.