Xenophobic alleged child sex trafficker Matt Gaetz, a Republican Congressman from Florida, introduced a bill ending birthright citizenship in the United States, something guaranteed in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Using the derogative term “anchor babies,” Gaetz claims in a press release written by Breitbart News featured on his website, “Anchor babies are rewarded with birthright citizenship despite their parents having no legitimate ties to the U.S., many having only recently arrived. Years later, when the child is considered an adult, they can sponsor their parents and foreign relatives for green cards — anchoring their family in the country for generations.”
Less than 2% of all people in the United States were born with at least one of their parents being an undocumented immigrant, all of whom are US citizens per the Constitution. Gaetz’s motion, which is doomed to fail, amplifies Republican talking points that play on fears that migrants will vote for Democrats. Instead of developing policies that appeal to a wider field of voters, Gaetz and Republicans instead want to change the laws of the United States to allow only their acolytes to vote.