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Readers’ opinions

The US has room for one flag, one loyalty

To the Editor:

Birthright citizenship is shorthand for the right enshrined in our 14th Amendment that persons born on American soil may claim US citizenship. The claim is based on conferring citizenship to anybody, regardless of the legal status of the parents, born on US soil. This means children born here to illegal aliens become US citizens.

In 2024, an estimated 300,000 children were born in the US to non-citizen parents who entered our country illegally. Who knows whether all were counted by the Biden administration? My guess is that there are probably many more. Some of us believe that the current claim that the 14th Amendment confers citizenship on the children of illegal aliens is mistaken. Neither the text of the Constitution nor the legislative history supports such an interpretation.

The 14th Amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the states wherein they reside.” From a constitutional point of view, the inclusion of the clause” and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” indicates that mere birth is not sufficient to acquire citizenship.

In 1873, the United States Supreme Court held that a person born in the United States that year to parents who were Chinese nationals acquired citizenship at birth under the 14th Amendment. The parents were ineligible to naturalize under the law at that time but they had established permanent domicile and residence in the US. Then, in 1884, that same court held that the federal government could exclude members of Indian tribes from birthright citizenship. The reasoning was that the persons owed immediate allegiance to their tribes. Wouldn’t that same reasoning apply to illegal aliens who are Mexican, Chinese, Venezuelan and every other country? These Supreme Court cases are interpreted as barring the federal government from denying birthright citizenship based upon the alienage of the parents.

For over 150 years, the United States Supreme Court has not made any further holdings on the extent to which Congress or the Executive Branch may deny citizenship to a person born in the United States based on the alienation of his or her parents. I believe the correct interpretation is that it would not violate the 14th Amendment to deny citizenship to the children of illegal aliens. These illegal aliens are arguably not within the jurisdiction of the United States. The illegal alien parents do not owe allegiance to the US as they are citizens of a foreign country. We need the US Supreme Court to decide how this citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment applies to children of non-citizens who enter our country illegally. Our country has room for just one flag and one loyalty.

Dave Molek

Reedsville

Spread the Gospel when we can

To the Editor:

Have you been to church services lately?

My family and I were regular attendees for many years. I have not been in church for several years. There were several causes, namely, COVID, then I had a stroke. I was in the hospital three times and in rehab three times, a total of many months. This year I was determined to go to the Christmas Eve services. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with the help of my family and a wheelchair, my wish was fulfilled.

The services were excellent, it was conducted by our soon-to-be pastor. Accolades to Ruth Ann on her responding to our call, she is one of our own.

The scripture tells us “When you select a Leader.” We are to pick a respected one of our own. I think God is guiding us in the right direction.

Thank you for reading my story. I hope in reading my story it may make you think about the birth and ministry of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

After all, it is our great commission to spread the gospel when we can.

To give God the glory.

Frank Bonson

Milroy

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