Derb, I’m no expert on constitutional law (cue vigorous nodding of the head by Ramesh), but I suspect that whatever the original intent of the drafters of that amendment, it now probably ‘means’ what Pod says it means. Stare Decisis and all that. That said, it makes no sense at all that US-born children of illegal aliens should automatically gain citizenship. The draft law that you mentioned takes a far better approach. Needless to say it will get nowhere with the current administration. In his overall approach to immigration, this president combines insouciance and irresponsibility with sentimentality and a hard-nosed determination to help big business get the cheapest labor it can. His message to blue collar America: “get lost” (this is a family-friendly blog, the original terminology was little rougher).