The immigration debate has gotten nastier and more dangerous as some leading Republican Congressmen propose repeal or revision of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Spend a little time doing my job, and you get pretty used to hearing some "out there" proposals. But I admit, I found myself audibly gasping as I listened to and read reports that even some mainstream lawmakers are considering rejecting or substantially altering one of the most important cornerstones of civil rights in our country.
This is the latest in anti-immigrant fear mongering, praying on the fear and stress of hard economic times used to such advantage by supporters of Arizona's SB 1070. Rampant unemployment and economic recession is often a breeding ground for anger targeting those most visible and most vulnerable - in this case, undocumented immigrants. But whatever problems we have with immigration, this is not the solution.
In the wise words of Lou Dobbs, "The idea that anchor babies somehow require changing the 14th Amendment, I part ways with the Senators on that because I believe the 14th Amendment, particularly in its due process and equal protection clauses, is so important," Dobbs said. "It lays the foundation for the entire Bill of Rights being applied to the states."
