politics
Senators Introduce Bills to Limit Birthright Citizenship for Tourist Visa Holders
Two Republican lawmakers have drafted separate measures targeting birth tourism after a Supreme Court decision upheld birthright citizenship. The proposals would restrict citizenship for children born to women on tourist visas and bar pregnant foreign nationals from entering the country.
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Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is preparing legislation that would deny U.S. citizenship to children born in the United States to women holding tourist visas. The measure aims to end the practice of birth tourism, in which foreign nationals travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children receive citizenship.
Scott said the bill is designed to reach the president's desk and would require Democratic support in the Senate. He argued that temporary visitors should not be able to obtain citizenship for their children simply by giving birth on U.S. soil.
House Proposal Rep.
, introduced the Anchors Away Act on Wednesday. The bill would allow federal authorities to prevent pregnant foreign nationals from entering the United States. Ogles also authored the Assimilation Act, which would end birthright citizenship, require employers to use E-Verify, and eliminate the green-card lottery.
A third measure from the same lawmaker would permit the government to revoke citizenship from individuals convicted of certain crimes. Ogles said the legislation gives Congress an opportunity to define citizenship and immigration rules rather than leaving those decisions to the courts.
Both proposals face significant procedural hurdles in a narrowly divided Congress.
