Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, is preparing to reintroduce legislation originally sponsored by the late Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, which aimed to curtail birthright citizenship. The bill, a comprehensive immigration reform package from 1993, would also substantially reduce legal immigration, cap refugee admissions, and expedite deportations.
Moreno stated that his objective is twofold: to challenge the Supreme Court's interpretation of birthright citizenship and to highlight the divergence between current Democratic stances and those of the party in the early 1990s. "The Democrats of today are nothing like the Democrats of 1993," Moreno said, adding that if Democrats reject a bill once championed by their former leader, it would put Republicans in a clear position.
The proposed legislation seeks to modify the interpretation of the 14th Amendment's phrase "subject to the jurisdiction of." Under Moreno's revival of Reid's bill, children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, most temporary visa holders, and others present in the country unlawfully or temporarily would not automatically qualify for citizenship. This reinterpretation directly contrasts with the Supreme Court's ruling, which affirmed that children born in the U.S. are automatically granted citizenship.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who was mentored by Reid, publicly supported the Supreme Court's decision, stating that "those born in America are American." This position stands in contrast to Reid's own arguments from 1993, when he expressed concerns about the burden of illegal immigration on social programs and federal resources. Reid's press release at the time argued for closing the door to those who might abuse America's generosity and legal system while still allowing asylum for those facing persecution.
Moreno's bill aims to redefine who qualifies for birthright citizenship, specifically excluding children born to parents who are not legal residents or citizens. The original 1993 bill by Reid also included provisions to cap refugee admissions at 50,000 annually and to speed up deportation processes with limited judicial review, measures Moreno intends to carry forward.