For the past few days, the issue of immigration has taken center stage.  Protesters all over the nation have gone to the streets calling attention to immigration reforms.  A few have brazenly waved some foreign flags.  I have my very personal views on this matter, albeit biased, I being an immigrant myself.  For the moment however, I just want to bring to the fore, the doctrine of "jus soli".

Yes, I have been bugged by this doctrine for sometime now - anybody born in the United States is a natural-born U.S. citizen.  No matter who his parents are, he is a citizen by reason of place of birth. 

So now, I am looking at this couple ahead of me, at the supermart, speaking a foreign language, with 4 children in tow, paying a cartful of goods with gov't coupons.  My mind starts reeling with questions:  Were the children born here?  How come they have gov't coupons?  The couple looked so robust and healthy, certainly, they could find work?  How much are they receiving for child welfare?  Four children would add up to about $1500-2000 a month?  How about health and medical benefits?  Is the government actually spoiling them, and enabling them to be dependent on handouts?  Is the gov't actually enticing foreigners, undocumented or not, to come here to the USA, by way of very generous government benefits? 

How about the loyalties of the parents?  Should they not come into play when considering whether or not to grant their children citizenship by reason of "jus soli"? Children usually assimilate the prejudices of the parents... Should we at least put some limitations on the use of this doctrine?  Like disallowing citizenship to children of parents with known terrorist ties? 

Should our lawmakers re-visit the doctrine of "jus soli"?