Tom Andres

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction therof, are citizens of the United States.” Passed in 1868 to secure U.S. citizenship for newly freed black slaves, it has been interpreted as sanctioning citizenship on children of illegal immigrants who are born in the United States. In the following viewpoint, Tom Andres questions this practice of bestowing birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants, arguing that such a policy encourages and rewards illegal immigration while sending a message that America is not serious about controlling it. Andres is a freelance writer who writes frequently on environmental topics.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What is the “anchor baby” effect...