Constitutional obstacle course: the challenges facing the birthright citizenship bill backers

Frustrated by the federal government's refusal to solve illegal immigration, some lawmakers want the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve who exactly is an American citizen.

In trying to define citizenship, birthright busters will have to navigate not only through the U.S. Supreme Court, but the U.S. Senate, other states and even their own caucus.

Closings set in border group leader’s murder trial

Attorneys are expected to give closing arguments Thursday in the murder case against an anti-illegal immigrant group leader who is accused of gunning down a 9-year-old girl and her father in what prosecutors say was an attempt to steal drug money to fund border operations.

Brewer and Horne to make announcement on immigration law

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne plan to make an announcement Thursday about the state's efforts to defend its controversial immigration enforcement law.

Ariz. citizenship proposal set for Tuesday vote

An Arizona lawmaker who proposed a challenge to automatic U.S. citizenship for children of illegal immigrants has sent his measure to a different legislative committee.

Poll: Feds encourage illegal immigration

Rasmussen Reports yesterday publicized a national survey it conducted earlier this month that shows 68 percent of likely voters believe border security is more important than legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already in the country. The question, however, seems designed to elicit such an outcome.

Commissioner proclaims border safe and secure

The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the border is more safe and secure today because of a 1 1/2 -year-old border crackdown initiative.

Stung by setback, supporters of birthright bills change tactics; bills assigned to Appropriations

After Monday's setback, backers of the birthright bills are changing their strategy.

Border region school district forced to ‘disenroll’ legitimate U.S. citizens

The state Department of Education in May 2010 released an audit, charging that 105 students, some of whom are U.S. citizens, are attending schools in Ajo but are actually living across the border in Mexico and not entitled to a free education in Arizona schools. The state fined the Ajo Unified $1.2 million, the amount the state claims was spent to educate those students.

Arcadia students tackle immigration by making film

When six Arcadia High School students embarked on their project, their goal sprang from the pure idealism of the young: Reveal a solution to the problem of illegal immigration by making a documentary.

Birthright bills run into trouble

Backers of proposals that aim to ultimately deny U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants suffered a setback on Monday when the chairman of the Arizona Senate committee that tackled the bills concluded he did not have the votes to approve them.

Lawmakers mull automatic citizenship bill

Arizona lawmakers are holding a hearing on a bill that challenges automatic U.S. citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

Birthright citizenship debate, a preview

When lawmakers today tackle a proposal that is aimed at ultimately challenging the citizenship of American-born children of illegal immigrants, the debate probably will focus on the meaning of a phrase of the 14th Amendment: Who exactly is “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States?