Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt wants federal agencies to review citizenship documents issued to children of foreign diplomats born in the United States.
Schmitt says he believes that the Supreme Court’s recent decision on birthright citizenship undermines the idea of citizenship in the country.
“The Supreme Court in that decision also made clear that the children of foreign diplomats that are born here, that's clearly not a birthright citizenship example, meaning they're not supposed to be given, even with their current interpretation, full citizenship," Schmitt says.
Schmitt says the State Department and Department of Homeland Security would be responsible for examining those records and determining whether any documents should be revoked.
Schmitt has sent letters to the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security. Schmitt says he would expect the State Department to be fully cooperative.
“We're not asking for a change in law. We're actually asking them to enforce the law. And so, if there's no law that requires the diplomat from Belgium or Zimbabwe or wherever is here for a four-year stay and they have a kid and they move back to Belgium or Zimbabwe, that kid isn't an American citizen," Schmitt explains.
St. Louis Democratic State Representative Ray Reed points to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling reaffirming birthright citizenship, arguing the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to people born in the United States.
Missourinet