Citizenship Debate

Re “A Renewed Debate in Red, White and Blue,” July 4:

I find it ironic that immigration apologists now rely on the “subject to the jurisdiction” clause in the 14th Amendment to justify citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants. This clause means “‘subject to the sovereign power” of the United States, and hence, its laws. Upon setting foot on U.S. soil, the illegal immigrant has immediately violated U.S. law.

The solution is to enforce the law by deporting the parents illegally here, giving them the option to take their child with them or leave the child as a ward of the U.S.

HAROLD BOGIN

San Clemente

I have a quick comment regarding Robert Kahn’s piece, “Keeping Illegal Workers Male, Young and Fit,” Opinion, July 6:

Quite simply, I find it hard to believe that the strongest nation in the world can’t secure its own borders if it truly wants to. Kahn quite correctly leads us to believe that for reasons both political and financial, the powers that be don’t hold such a desire.

DALE BECK

North Hollywood