FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul is stirring it up again, this time by saying he opposes citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are illegal immigrants.
Paul, who a week ago won the GOP primary, told a Russian TV station in a clip circulating on political Web sites Friday that he wants to block citizenship to those children.
The remark was made in the interview done with RT, which has an English-language broadcast, shortly after his Kentucky primary victory over GOP establishment candidate Trey Grayson.
“We’re the only country I know that allows people to come in illegally, have a baby, and then that baby becomes a citizen,” Paul said. “And I think that should stop also.”
Legislation dubbed the Birthright Citizenship Act was introduced in the House last year seeking to prevent citizenship to babies born to illegal immigrants even though the 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. More than 90 lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors.
Paul told the TV station that partisan politics may be at play in not stopping illegal immigration.
“I’m not opposed to letting people come in and work and labor in our country,” Paul said. “But I think what we should do is we shouldn’t provide an easy route to citizenship. A lot of this is about demographics. If you look at new immigrants from Mexico, they register three to one Democrat, so the Democratic Party is for easy citizenship and allowing them to vote. I think we need to address that.”
Campaign chairman David Adams said Friday that Paul stands behind his statements.
“Illegal immigration is a real problem in this country,” Adams said, “and if we can’t talk about this, what can we talk about?”
Paul faces Democrat Jack Conway, the state’s attorney general, in the November general election.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.