Illegal aliens and undocumented immigrants make up a significant percentage of today’s society in the United States. With more and more of these people permanently living, working, and going to school in this nation, their civil rights have become an increasingly controversial and talked about topic. Some question whether those in this country illegally should even be allotted civil rights, while others feel that civil rights come naturally to every human being, whether they have the proper documentation or not. The answer lies in the U.S. Constitution, although some interpret it’s meaning differently than others. The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, passed by Congress in 1866, states, in part, that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” …show more content…
Because these people are living in and contributing to our country, whether it be by working or attending school, etc., they in turn are entitled to civil rights. If one is a productive member of society, they are eligible to reap the benefits of and be granted the liberties clearly stated in the nation’s Constitution. Former presidential candidate Ben Carson even went so far as to say that without illegal alien workers, entire industries would collapse, as America needs undocumented immigrants to do the jobs that Americans feel they are too good to do (hfdhjgfjhhf). It is unfair to deny basic civil rights to illegal immigrants when they are such an integral part of our country’s job market, economy, and
The 14th Amendment was made in 1868 to allow every person who was born in America or who had become an American citizen to have the same rights as any other citizen. Additionally, they were also a citizen of whatever state they lived in. No state in America was allowed to make laws that limit US citizens’ rights and protection, execute people, imprison people or take their property away without a legal process.
1. Our great country was founded upon a high set of principles, values, and laws. Many of these are easily seen when looking at the United States constitution. The first ten amendments are what is commonly known as the Bill of Rights. This is good and all, but until the fourteenth amendment was passed, the Bill of Rights only was applied to the Federal government. The 14th amendment has a clause that says, "no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." The Supreme Court ruled against “Total Incorporation”, but instead ruled in favor of “Selective Incorporation”. This meaning that the Supreme Court would define the constitutionality of the treatment of a citizen by the state.
This amendment was created during the reconstruction phase attempting to reunite this country after the brutal battles of the Civil War. Henretta and Brody emphasize how the Republicans were progressing in a direction to sanctify the civil rights of the black community. These authors contend the vital organ of the document was the wording in the first section. It said “all persons born or naturalized in the United States were citizens.” No state could abridge “the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States”; deprive “any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”; or deny anyone “the equal protection of the laws.”2 Imagine the problems that could arise in the country if repeal were to come to a realization. Henretta and Brody point out how the wording in section 1 of the document was written in a way that could be construed as inexplicit. The reason for this was for the judicial system and Congress could set an example for balance in due process here in the
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of United States addressed the issues related to citizenship of the country and their fundamental rights for equality. This amendment is regarded as one of the most significant clauses in the US constitution since it provides the definition for citizenship, deals with the rights of the US citizens, and defines the state’s obligations to protect the rights of its citizens. This amendment was passed in the year 1866 by the Congress following the Civil War. The primary goal of this amendment was to provide equal civil and legal rights to all US citizens, including the African Americans. The citizenship clause in this amendment attracted lot of attention and debates owing to its far-reaching impacts on the citizenship status of various communities and immigrants who are staying in the country. This amendment was an important part of the reconstruction program (NALEO, 1).
Thusly, civil rights were created to make sure that the American citizens would have political and social freedom along with equal opportunities. Yet, during this time slavery was still a problem at hand, and the creation of civil rights were in the hands of the states government. The civil rights protected the people against the government infringing upon them at any time, and it assured the people to believe that they would live in a state without repression or discrimination. Although many states still discriminated against African American people especially when it came time to vote for new delegates. However, civil liberties come in to play and further ensures that citizens’ rights will not be
The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution affects us today by granting citizenship, civil rights, and congressional representation.
It forbid the denial of life, liberty, and property without due process of law. On July 9th 1868, this amendment was ratified, and was directly used to prevent states from denying rights to the newly freed slaves. This new amendment declared that all former slaves were citizens of the United States, and were not to be denied of their birth rights. To put this into perspective, before the ratification of the fourteenth amendments former slaves were free in a sense, but were not considered citizens allowing people to take advantage of them, and is still a prevalent issue to this day. “By directly mentioning the role of the states, the 14th Amendment greatly expanded the protection of civil rights to all Americans and is cited in more litigation than any other amendment.”
The first amendment is the cornerstone of our American society founded years ago by our forefathers. Without the first amendment many ideas, beliefs, and groups could not exist today. The first amendment guaranteed the people of the United States the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition. Although the first amendment guarantees us, Americans the freedom of speech, we cannot use it to cause others harm. This amendment has helped shaped Americans into what we are today, because of our right to assemble, speak freely, and worship as we please.
The Fourteenth Amendment was adopted in 1868 as one of the longest amendments to the Constitution with five parts in total. The most significant part is section one. In the very first sentence of section one, ? All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, as citizens of the United States and of the state where in they reside? citizenship was universalized. The Amendment was designed to prohibit state governments from curtailing the rights of former slaves after the Civil War, however it has been used to grant all of the personal liberties and rights conveyed in the Bill of Rights.
Throughout American history, our civil liberties as American citizens have evolved immensely. For example, the first ten amendments in the U.S. Constitution are referred to as the “The Bill of Rights,” which contains some of the most cherished civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and religion. These civil liberties however, did not originally apply to state governments or institutions the state established. The Bill of Rights focused solely on what the national government could not do, allowing state governments to do whatever they wanted. For example, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire supported Congregationalist ministers with tax payer dollars for decades. After the Civil War, civil liberties expanded, because three new amendments were added: the Thirteenth, abolishing slavery, the Fourteenth, which redefined civil liberties and rights, and the Fifteenth, which allowed adult, male citizens to vote. The due process clause (contained in the Fourteenth Amendment) became one of the most important civil liberties, because it applied the language of the Fifth Amendment to state governments, proclaiming that they could not “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law....
Empowered figures in this great land speak of equality. Of fairness under the laws, or of liberty and justice for all, or that all men, as far as governmental jurisdiction is concerned, are created equal. But I say to you – This is far from the truth, though perhaps it is an untruth many would presume necessary for the good of society. Good people sharing my race are condemned to nigh infinite torment that departs only in death. Why must my children live in a society that dictates one’s fate on the basis of appearance over heart? Why, after having become forty years of age, is this a piece of the very fabric we have constructed our society upon? This must not be, for it goes against the very ideas of equality that
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” is stated in the United States Constitution as the Second Amendment. Several Americans wish to rid of guns from citizens, disobeying and disrespecting the Constitution. I shot my first gun when I was young and have always been surrounded by them. My neighbor does not leave the house without carrying one, nor does my eighteen year old friend. Never once have I felt unsafe or uneasy knowing that there was a gun close to me. The right to bare arms has become a popular local battle in which some people want to reduce the freedom of one owning firearms while others wish for the
According to the U.S. constitution, fundamental rights hold a special significance under the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments. The Fourteenth amendment states that, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without Due Process of law; nor deny to any person within its ju...
The illegal immigrant population would not receive social justice from the bill due to the eligibility criteria that state recipients must be either a homeless and foster youth and under the age of 23 year old. This is a form of social injustice because individuals are being treated with inequality due to the fact that homeless and foster care youth population are being awarded with more opportunities and assistance with higher education access for success vs the illegal immigrant whom have limited support for success. Under the human rights bill it states that all individuals are created equal and should be offer equal opportunities, however, this bill demonstrates the complete opposite. In addition, there should be equal access to educational
I should receive a passing grade in this class because I can write now. Not just an exaggeration, but after another semester of English I finally feel confident that can write. Three of the reasons behind my confidence is I learned, I experienced and best of all I repeated. These three values helped prepare me for what is in store in English 1302 and here is why.