American Morning
Changing the 14th amendment
Section 1 of the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
The amendment guarantees that if a person was born in the United States they are automatically granted "birthright citizenship." Although the amendment was adopted in 1868 it has become a hot button issue in recent years. In 2010 alone "anchor babies" has set off a political firestorm and it is carrying over into 2011.
House representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, wasted no time in Congress yesterday making this a political topic of the year introducing, "The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011" to the House floor that would repeal birthright citizenship. Representative Steve King explains his position on American Morning.
Illegal immigrant on DREAM Act:'We are the solution'
(CNN) - The House and Senate could vote as soon as Wednesday on a bill that would grant citizenship eligibility to thousands of young illegal immigrants if they go to college or serve in the military. The Obama administration and Congressional Democrats will hold a Wednesday news conference to push for passage of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM. Championing the bill for the White House is Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Illinois, and Rep. Howard Berman, D-California, are also scheduled to appear.
The DREAM Act would create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children. Under the bill, an individual would have to be of "good moral character" and either receive a college degree or complete at least two years of U.S. military service.
Today on American Morning, two illegal immigrant students who are pushing for The Dream Act, Gaby Pacheco and Cesar Vargas, speak with AM's Kiran Chetry on their mission. Read more
Virginia targets illegal immigrants
Six-year-old Rahel Williams holds up a flag during a ceremony where she and 24 other children became U.S. citizens on May 21, 2010 in Chantilly, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(CNN) – The Obama administration took Arizona to court to block the most controversial provisions of the state's new immigration law. Now, another state may be in the cross-hairs. Virginia's attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, issued a legal opinion yesterday that authorizes police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop for legitimate reasons. He joined us on Wednesday's American Morning to discuss how his opinion would be applied. Watch 
Oscar's story: College degree, but no papers
Self-deported Oscar Vazquez waits in Mexico. (Joel De La Rosa/CNN)
(CNN) – Oscar Vazquez is a young man with a family and a bright future, caught in the middle of the immigration debate. He's a college grad who earned his engineering degree from Arizona State University. Now, he's back in Mexico by choice while his American dream remains across the border. John Zarrella has Oscar's story. Watch
Legal & illegal immigrants leaving Arizona out of fear
(CNN) – At the 11th hour yesterday, after all the anger and arguments, a federal judge blocked the most controversial parts of Arizona's new immigration law. The case now heads for higher courts, but still, some of the estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants who went to Arizona are leaving the state out of fear. Our Thelma Gutierrez introduces us to some of them. Watch
Family stuck in U.S. can't return home
(CNN) – With unemployment hovering near 10% nationwide, plenty of immigrants, both legal and illegal, are among the millions coast-to-coast having trouble finding work. As such, many are trying to return to their native countries to search for jobs, but some are finding that can be easier said than done. Soledad O'Brien, special correspondent for CNN's "In America" documentary series, introduces us to one family stuck in the United States.
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