Washington (CNN) - Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul is once again making waves, this time for saying he opposes citizenship for U.S. born children of undocumented immigrants.
In an interview posted Wednesday on RT.com, a Russian television station that broadcasts in English, Paul said he favors modifying current law.
"We are the only country I know of that allows people to come in illegally, have a baby, and then that baby becomes a citizen," Paul said. "And I think that should stop also."
Paul, a Tea Party movement favorite, captured the Kentucky GOP primary last week, defeating establishment candidate Trey Grayson.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees citizenship to individuals born in the United States, but Paul's position is not an unpopular one in Congress.
Legislation referred to as the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009, a bill that has 91 co-sponsors, would modify the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent U.S. citizenship for individuals born to undocumented immigrants.
Paul campaign chairman David Adams confirmed to CNN that Paul stands by his comments.
Paul also suggested that immigration policies favored by Democrats are politically motivated.
"I'm not opposed to letting people come in work and labor in our country, but I think what we should do is, we shouldn't provide an easy route to citizenship. A lot of this is about demographics," Paul said. "If you look at new immigrants from Mexico, they register three to one Democrat. The Democrat Party is for easy citizenship for allowing them to vote."
On his campaign website, Paul explains his position on immigration in terms of incentives and subsidies.
"I realize that subsidizing something creates more of it, and do not think the taxpayer should be forced to pay for welfare, medical care and other expenses for illegal immigrants. Once the subsidies for illegal immigration are removed, the problem will likely become far less common," Paul says.
From CNN Politics
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I completely agree, and it is about time someone pointed out how stupid our current policy is. Quick fix: Require at least one of the parents to be a US citizen for the baby to be granted citizemship.
Thank you Mr. Paul for having the courage to speak out!
Will somebody please give Rand his brain back...
So Rand Paul would change the Constitution to NOT guarantee people born in this country citizenship?
And...this is the same Tea Party-NRA consortium who screams in terror about the sanctity of the Constitution everytime a teen dies from gun violence and the majority of people want to limit guns in this country??
It is only a hypocrite who will talk out of both sides of their mouth.
The self-serving extremist Paul is more than willing to massage the Constitution for his own ends...but invents reasons it should vener be changed when he agrees with it!
The bottom line of these contrasting issues is that, obviously, immigrants have no high-powered right wing backed political lobbying group in Washington like the gun nuts!
Don't think much of Paul. But I also see no compelling moral or economic reason for the part of the 14th amendment the gives citizenship to people born here. It made sense in the post-slavery, post civil war era. Now? Not at all. Repeal that and put in place the outline that Chuck Shumer and Lindsey Graham developed ... and I'm good.
So Rand Paul and the republicans don't believe in the constitution?
If the State of Kentucky votes this moron into office-they'll deserve what they get. Is his campaign song "Dixie" or "The South Shall Rise Again"?I mean they already have Mitch McConnell- you'd think that would be enough for them down there.
What's that Constitution thingey? Let's fix it by taking out all the amendments and legislation the Pauls don't likel
So...these kids, who have done nothing whatsoever wrong themselves, should suffer. But he's not a racist, right?
Apparently Mr. Paul has not read the Constitution of the United States which states:
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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
If you want to represent the United States, Mr. Paul, learn the law of the land. Anyone born within the United States is a citizen no matter who their parents are or how they got here. Suck it up and deal with it.
If "Paul's position is not an unpopular one in Congress," why does the headline read "Paul remark again raises brows?" CNN's brows, perhaps?
Pick a side, already.
the dems are good at trying to throw elections to themselves "by hook or by crook". It is very refreshing to see a candidate stand up for Americans who worked hard in this country and did things legally and ethically..This guy is Gold–but watch the Dems try to trash him ....Witness the Emmanual/Clinton affair trying to bribe one of their own to throw a primary-wake up America!
can we put this Bozo back in his box and tape it up where we never hear from him again
I have to agree with Ru Paul, on this one...
I'm with him all the way. We ARE the only country that allows children of illegals that are born here to be citizens.
It is called the Democratic Party, not the "Democrat Party". How can you be in politics in this country and not even know the name of one of two parties governing the country?
That being said, I'm not necessarily against him on this one. Good luck amending the Constitution though.
Great. So when do we get to send Michelle Malkin back to the Phillipenes?
Weren't there something like 90 House members as sponsor of a bill like this a year ago? Why is this such huge news in this instance only? I hardly saw anything about it when that bill was introduced in Congress and still couldn't say who the sponsors were....
Some libertarian. Libertarians don't even believe in boarders, passports or restrictions on who you can hire at all! Restrictions are against "private property" and "free enterprise"!
The Tea Baggers and the anti government people are all for Defending the Constitution when it comes to them, but when it comes to others they want to change the constitution.......they think the Constitution only applies to them.......what a bunch of losers and fools
Is Rand aware of the US Constitution?
Yes!! Such amendment is badly needed and long overdue.
omg! well then the entire country needs to be emptied! NONE OF US ARE HERE LEGALLY by this idiots standards! Man I hope he gets booted, this LOON!
Republicans are wacky, But this guy is seriously BAD NEWS for the American People! this guy is DANGEROUS!
Now Paul has fallen to the ranks of a "CHILD ABUSER" of the most volunerable and innocent.
Illegal immigrants do not live on or qualify for welfare and they absolutely do not qualify for medical aid. Where the hell is this guy getting his information from? This is just bs racism in the guise of immigration reform. By the way. Mexicans are not the only people coming into this country illegally. They just happen to be the country right on our border. The other one is Canada. The terrorists that have caused the most damage to us came in through the Canadian border. I don't see Maine or any of the other northern border states coming up with these absolutely racist agendas.