Immigration debate gnaws at meaning of citizenship – In California, and elsewhere in the United States, activists are debating not only immigration – but who should get to be a citizen.

For centuries, the United States has granted citizenship to anyone born here, except the children of foreign diplomats. And for many, there is nothing to debate about birthright citizenship, a practice enshrined in the Constitution and one they feel is as American as apple pie.

But there is a growing push by anti-illegal immigration groups to prevent the children of undocumented immigrants from acquiring birthright citizenship – a policy they believe is a magnet for illegal immigration. In Congress, 95 lawmakers this year backed a proposal to do just that.

And in California, two activists are working on a statewide initiative that could indirectly challenge birthright citizenship. The proposal, which needs nearly 434,000 signatures to make the November 2008 ballot, would distinguish between birth certificates issued to the children of U.S. citizens and green-card holders and to the children of temporary visitors and illegal immigrants.”*

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