Texas Already Denying US Citizen Children Their Birthright

Undocumented families sue state for rejecting Mexican ID, allege violation of 14th Amendment

August 19, 2015 5:15PM ET

by Marisa Taylor   @marisahtaylor & Heidi Zhou-Castro   @HeidiZhouCastro

Juana, a 33-year-old mother of three, works as a kale picker on the U.S.-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas, where she shares a one-bedroom trailer with her children. She was born in Mexico, and her uncle helped her to cross into Texas when she was 14 years old.

“I’ve been here practically half my life,” said Juana, who did not want to reveal her last name because she is undocumented. “I pay taxes. I’ve never depended on the government.”

Her children, born the Texas side of the border, are U.S. citizens. But when she went to the local vital statistics office earlier this year to get a copy of her youngest daughter’s birth certificate, she was turned away for lack of proper identification. Her child, who was born in November 2013, still does not have a birth certificate.

Like Trump: Seven Republican Candidates Want to Repeal the 14th. Amendment

A Good Chunk Of GOP Field Wants To Repeal The 14th Amendment

Seven candidates now support re-examining birthright citizenship.

Sam Stein

Senior Politics Editor, The Huffington Post

Amanda Terkel

Senior Political Reporter, The Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- In the fall of 2010, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), one of the most hawkish anti-immigrant voices in Congress, launched a legislative campaign to end the scourge of "anchor babies," as he called them.

The target was the 14th Amendment, which grants everyone born in the United States of America the right of citizenship. The Iowa Republican saw something more nefarious: a scheme by those outside the country (Hispanics, specifically) to get a foothold in the country by coming here and having a child. And so he debuted a bill to end birthright citizenship, which he has continued to introduce in subsequent sessions.

It was highly controversial then and remains so. The latest version, introduced in the 114th Congress, has just 27 co-sponsors.

But the push does have support in the high ranks of the Republican Party. And if this week is any indication, it may be on the path toward becoming a part of the GOP's immigration platform.

On Sunday, business mogul Donald Trump came out in support of ending birthright citizenship -- and on Monday, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker joined him.