Moreno Announces Reintroduction of Harry Reid Bill to Eliminate Birthright Citizenship

WASHINGTON -

Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) announced he will reintroduce of Former Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) bipartisan bill to eliminate birthright citizenship.

"Before far-left radicals took over the Democrat Party, their leader Harry Reid introduced a great bill to end birthright citizenship, ensure no illegals could vote, and crack down on employers who abuse illegal labor," said Senator Moreno. "It's a great bill, so I say let's vote on it and find out once and for all if Harry Reid would still have a home in the modern Democrat Party."

Summary

Senator Reid's bill, which Senator Moreno is reintroducing, would:

• Cracks down on criminal aliens and illegal reentry: Expands the list of aggravated felonies, strengthens penalties for illegal reentry (up to 10-20 years), requires local law enforcement to notify immigration authorities within 72 hours of felony arrests, and enables faster deportation during prison sentences.
• Targets alien smugglers with RICO authority: Treats alien smuggling as a RICO offense, raises penalties, expands asset forfeiture, and authorizes wiretaps to dismantle professional smuggling networks and human trafficking operations.
• Holds carriers accountable at the border: Holds airlines and other international carriers financially responsible for bringing in people without proper documents.
• Protects American workers with worksite enforcement: Requires employers to use tamper-proof identification (enhanced Social Security and alien work cards) and a telephone verification system to confirm work eligibility.
• Enforces state and local cooperation: Requires states and cities to use the federal SAVE system to verify immigration status before issuing federal benefits such as welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, housing, and unemployment - and withholds funding from localities that refuse to comply.
• Defends citizenship and voting integrity: Clarifies that birthright citizenship does not apply to children of illegal immigrants and makes it a federal crime for non-citizens to vote in any federal, state, or local elections.

Read a full backgrounder on the bill HERE.