(Daily Signal)—Legal experts are debating the interpretation of the 14th Amendment inside and outside of courtrooms this week.
The amendment has often been interpreted to mean anyone born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen, and yet its interpretation may not be that simple, according to Kurt Lash, professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.
“Often called the birthright citizenship clause, this text actually requires more than birth to become a national citizen,” Lash said during a debate on the subject sponsored by The Federalist Society on Tuesday.
“One must also be born subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,” Lash, who is also a contributor to The Federalist Society, continued. “The meaning of that second requirement remains a subject of significant debate, in particular whether it applies to persons born to noncitizen parents illegally in the United States or to noncitizen parents only temporarily in the country.”
Lash moderated the debate on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment just two weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring the end of birthright citizenship to children born to illegal aliens.
The 14th Amendment declares that “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.”
Trump’s executive order focuses on the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” and holds that those born to parents who are not in the U.S. legally are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction and are therefore not legal citizens.
The amendment “does not include the U.S.-born children of travelers just passing through or temporarily residing here who otherwise claimed no allegiance to the nation, to our government, because that child at the time is not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,” Amy Swearer, a senior legal policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, said.
Swearer argued there is a great deal of room to debate the 14th Amendment and pointed out that legal scholars have done so for years.
John Yoo, a professor of law at the University of California at Berkeley, disagrees with Swearer and argues that the “traditional reading” of the amendment is the “correct” one.
The Trump administration’s recent interpretation of the amendment has triggered multiple lawsuits, including lawsuits from 22 state attorneys general and the American Civil Liberties Union.
In January, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour temporarily blocked Trump’s executive order until Feb. 6. This week, multiple hearings are scheduled to consider the order, which, if not blocked again, will take effect on Feb. 19.
On Thursday, Coughenour will consider whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would further prevent the Trump administration from enforcing the executive order. And on Friday, a hearing will be held to consider a lawsuit brought by 18 states challenging the order, according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, on Monday, 18 House GOP members led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, signed a 23-page friend-of-the-court brief backing Trump’s executive order to end automatic birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens.
Given the significant legal implications and controversy over Trump’s order, many speculate that the case, or cases, will eventually get to the Supreme Court for the nine justices to finally clarify the meaning of the 14th Amendment.
Why One Survival Food Company Shines Above the Rest
Let’s be real. “Prepper Food” or “Survival Food” is generally awful. The vast majority of companies that push their cans, bags, or buckets desperately hope that their customers never try them and stick them in the closet or pantry instead. Why? Because if the first time they try them is after the crap hits the fan, they’ll be too shaken to call and complain about the quality.
It’s true. Most long-term storage food is made with the cheapest possible ingredients with limited taste and even less nutritional value. This is why they tout calories so much. Sure, they provide calories but does anyone really want to go into the apocalypse with food their family can’t stand?
This is what prompted the Llewellyns to launch Heaven’s Harvest. They bought survival food from multiple companies and determined they couldn’t imagine being stuck in an extended emergency with such low-quality food. They quickly discovered that freeze drying food for long-term storage doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor, consistency, or nutrition.
Their ingredients are all-American. In fact, they’re locally sourced and all-natural! This allows their products to be the highest quality on the market, so good that their customers often break open a bag in a pinch to eat because they want to, not just because they have to due to an emergency.
At Heaven’s Harvest, their only focus is amazing food. They don’t sell bugout bags, solar chargers, or multitools. They have one mission – feeding Americans in times of crisis.
What they DO offer is the ability for people to thrive in times of greatest need. On top of long-term storage food, they offer seeds to help Americans for the truly long-term. They want them to grow their own food if possible which is why they offer only Heirloom, Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid, Open-Pollinated seeds so their customers can build permanent food security on their own property.
