LULAC: Born here, citizen here During protest, civil rights organizers argue attacks on birthright citizenship is attack on Constitution. Several dozen protestors gathered on Galveston’s Seawall Saturday (2/15/2025) hoping to draw attention to what organizers said is an effort by President Trump and his congressional supporters to ignore the U.S. Constitution. The protest, organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens Galveston Council 151, aimed to sound off against President Donald Trump and Republican members of Congress attempts to end birthright citizenship. “The Constitution is clear,” said League of United Latin American Citizens board member Roberto Torres. “The 14th Amendment says if you are born in this country, you are an American citizen. Some may not like it, but the Constitution stands until it is amended.” The statements are contextually opposed to motions by Congressman Randy Weber, who maintains birthright citizenship is being misinterpreted and is being used as a “loophole” by illegal immigrants. The Texas 14th District Representative co-sponsored a bill that would deny birthright citizenship to those whose parents are in the country legally. He says people who disagree “have lost their freaking minds.” “This loophole has turned birthright citizenship into a magnet for illegal immigration,” Weber said in an email to district residents in late January. “Every year, nearly 400,000 expectant mothers cross our borders illegally with the intent of giving birth in the U.S., knowing that their child’s citizenship status could pave the way for permanent residency and government benefits.” The rally also addressed concerns surrounding DACA, which protects undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, from deportation. Shane Cranford, an attendee supporting the rally, defended DACA recipients. “I get it. You can’t have criminals. But these are just kids. We can afford some grace for these people.” Torres notes: “You have to have the mens rea to commit a crime. These kids came in when they were children. They had no state of mind to commit a crime.” i45NOW asked Congressman Weber’s Office if it had been asked by LULAC’s 151 chapter to discuss birthright, the 14th Amendment, and DACA — and if the Congressman had any statements regarding the rally. A representative from Congressman Weber’s Office answered that neither LULAC 151, or any other chapter, have requested a meeting with the Congressman on any of these issues. The Office did not offer a statement on the rally. While organizers acknowledged that not everyone agrees with their stance, they stressed that their advocacy is rooted in upholding constitutional rights and humane immigration policies. "This is about political power, regardless of what political party, this is about trying to clip political power. If you can de-Americanize a whole generation of kids, then you have a whole generation of citizens that will never get to vote. And this is what this is about." Torres said. The rally began at around 2:00 PM and roughly concluded at 3:30PM with crowd and traffic control provided by the Galveston Police Department.

Posted by i45NOW Staff Report at 2025-02-15 23:10:20 UTC