Arizona's new immigration law has returned immigration to the front-burner. A review of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors policy shows its official position supports amending the U.S. Constitution to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants. At least one supervisor said that's news to him.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted after the Civil War.
It overturned a decision that denied all African-Americans citizenship, even those born in the United States.
It also guaranteed civil rights for freed slaves.
More recently, people debate whether the 14th Amendment should be amended.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors policy says it should be.
Supervisors Ron Roberts and Bill Horn are both up for re-election.
Roberts, who has 16 years on the board, said he doesn't remember that section.
"We have a long legislative program and that must have been a hangover from something. And I just, I wouldn't support that policy," Roberts said.
But Horn, who's been a supervisor for 18 years, said he's all for it. "Oh, that's my policy. We are the only country in the world that allows this to happen."
Actually, more than two dozen countries grant citizenship to babies born within their borders, including Canada and Mexico.
Its not clear when the San Diego County Supervisors adopted its policy.
