Tennessee congressman introduces bill to ban ‘birthright tourism’

By Kim Jarrett
The Center Square

Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, Tennessee congressman Andy Ogles introduced a bill that would ban pregnant nonimmigrants from coming to America.

In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that an executive order from President Donald Trump’s administration to overhaul birthright citizenship is unconstitutional.

Chief Justice John Roberts cited an 1898 case that upheld citizenship for children born in the U.S. to people from China.

“Children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present here are thus subject to the nation’s jurisdiction,” Roberts wrote in the court’s majority opinion.

Ogles said the decision was “not only a betrayal of American sovereignty, but a direct attack on our national security.” A bill that Ogles calls the “Anchors Away Act” says a person is only subject to the jurisdiction of the United States if at least one of the parents is an American citizen or legal immigrant.

“Because of birthright citizenship, foreigners are being born on our soil, groomed by communists and globalists, and embedded into our society,” Ogles said. “They are running for our political offices. They are collecting American benefits. And they are actively colonizing our country.”

Ogles said his bill is a legislative solution.

“We are coequal branches of government,” Ogles said in a social media post. “Our Founding Fathers warned us against an all-too-powerful judiciary, and you can see that playing out right now.”

Democrats called it a victory.

“We celebrate today’s ruling as a victory for the Constitution and for every family whose future was put at risk by this administration’s attempt to redefine American citizenship,” said Rachel Campbell, chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party. “Instead of doing anything to make life better or more affordable, Republicans from the White House to our State House continue to use racism, cruelty and fear as weapons to hold onto power.”