U.S.-born children deserve rights

Judge Robert L. Pitman of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio ruled Friday that Texas officials can continue to deny United States birth certificates to the children of undocumented immigrants.

Pitman’s ruling has created barriers for United States-born children of undocumented immigrants in violation of the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.”

Those born in the United States are entitled by law to full citizenship rights regardless of the immigration status of their parents.

Before the ruling, the state allowed the use of a foreign ID if the mother lacked a Texas driver’s license or U.S. passport.

Many immigrants use matricula consular cards, which are issued to Mexican nationals living outside of Mexico, as a form of identification to obtain birth certificates for children born in the United States.

Texas officials can now refuse to accept foreign identification, which will in turn punish the children of undocumented immigrants.

Everyone born in the United States deserves a U.S. birth certificate, even if their parents are illegal immigrants.

In May, four women filed a civil lawsuit against the Texas Department of State Health Services for constitutional discrimination, stating that the state is violating their 14th Amendment rights.

More than two dozen immigrant parents in South Texas sued the state this year on behalf of 32 children they claim have been denied birth certificates.

The lead attorney for the children, Jennifer Harbury of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, said she understands the decision but fears for the safety for the children in the future.

Without a U.S. birth certificate, they will have trouble gaining access to basic services such as school, medical care and jobs.

This might be an obstacle to them because it could hold them back from opportunities in the future.

This ruling is unjust because the state is denying constitutionally guaranteed citizenship to children just because their parents are undocumented.

Children born in the United States should not be caught in the tug-of-war over the larger issue of immigration. If they are born here, citizenship is their Constitutional right.

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