--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What happens is, illegal immigrants can…" description: "\"What happens is, illegal immigrants can run across the border, drop a baby, and say, 'Ha-ha, there's nothing you can do now. My kid's an American citiz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/ann-coulter-469_14th-amendment_what-happens-is-illegal-immigrants-can-r_2294355.jpg" --- # What happens is, illegal immigrants can run across the… ![“What happens is, illegal immigrants can run across the border, drop a baby, and say, 'Ha-ha, there's nothing you can do now. My kid's an American citizen.' Well, that wasn't the intent of the 14th Amendment. Americans would not agree with that. It creates a horrible incentive.” quote by Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/ann-coulter-469_14th-amendment_what-happens-is-illegal-immigrants-can-r_2294355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/ann-coulter-469_14th-amendment_what-happens-is-illegal-immigrants-can-r_2294355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/ann-coulter-469_14th-amendment_what-happens-is-illegal-immigrants-can-r_2294355.jpg) > “What happens is, illegal immigrants can run across the border, drop a baby, and say, 'Ha-ha, there's nothing you can do now. My kid's an American citizen.' Well, that wasn't the intent of the 14th Amendment. Americans would not agree with that. It creates a horrible incentive.” [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that birthright citizenship incentivizes illegal entry and undermines the amendment’s purpose. **In simple terms:** Birthright citizenship may encourage illegal crossing. Key Takeaway Reevaluate citizenship rules. Themes immigration law citizenship policy incentives Mood concerned critical Type political controversial When to use this quote - border security debates - legislative reform - public opinion polls Key Concepts constitutional law political rhetoric national sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - How does birthright citizenship affect immigration patterns? - What alternatives exist that balance rights and security? A Different Perspective Critics say it ignores humanitarian concerns and legal precedents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [14th amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/14th-amendment/) [Amendment Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment-americans-5403386/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Happens Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-illegal-5403385/) [Illegal immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-immigrants/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) ## Related quotes > [The 14th Amendment, 2nd Amendment, there's nothing in the Constitution that says that if you are born to an illegal immigrant in America, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-14th-amendment-2nd-amendment-there-s-nothing-in-the-constitution/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Who in their right mind ever thought that the birth of a child to an illegal immigrant converted to citizenship? A lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/who-in-their-right-mind-ever-thought-that-the-birth-of-a-child-to-an/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-don-t-republicans-spend-all-their-airtime-attacking-the-media-for/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I have nothing against Indian Muslims but there are certain 'mohallas' in different parts of the State which have become the hub of illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/i-have-nothing-against-indian-muslims-but-there-are-certain-mohallas/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [People always break the law, but for the most part the rule of law triumphed and illegal immigrants were found and deported. The case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-always-break-the-law-but-for-the-most-part-the-rule-of-law/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Births to illegal immigrants now account for nearly one out of every ten births in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-deal/births-to-illegal-immigrants-now-account-for-nearly-one-out-of-every/) [Nathan Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-deal/) > [Obama wants to raise the issue of immigration reform so that he can demonize Republicans as anti-Hispanic. That's why Obama ignores the broad support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/obama-wants-to-raise-the-issue-of-immigration-reform-so-that-he-can/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [If you care about your personal liberty, you'll be cautious when you feel comfortable, blame all the illegal immigrants for everything. What you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-care-about-your-personal-liberty-you-ll-be-cautious-when-you/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The Biden administration is not just letting a record number of illegal immigrants cross our border, they are bringing them here. They are prohibiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/the-biden-administration-is-not-just-letting-a-record-number-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [So, where are the robots? We've been told for 40 years already that they're coming soon. Very soon they'll be doing everything for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hod-lipson/so-where-are-the-robots-we-ve-been-told-for-40-years-already-that/) [Hod Lipson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hod-lipson/) > [Let us leave the EEC, abolish human rights laws, take TV sets, pool tables and phones out of prisons, bring back corporal and capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/let-us-leave-the-eec-abolish-human-rights-laws-take-tv-sets-pool/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/) > [Illegal immigrants have been a problem in America for hundreds of years...Just ask any Indian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/illegal-immigrants-have-been-a-problem-in-america-for-hundreds-of/) [Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/) > [The criminal illegal immigrants and violent cartels who have poured through our open borders have threatened Ohioans' safety and their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/the-criminal-illegal-immigrants-and-violent-cartels-who-have-poured/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [The truth is, the central issue is not the needs of the 11 million illegal immigrants or however many there may be - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-truth-is-the-central-issue-is-not-the-needs-of-the-11-million/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Do all children have some inherent right to live in America if they have done nothing wrong? If not, then why should the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/do-all-children-have-some-inherent-right-to-live-in-america-if-they/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Ann Coulter > [The idea of a bowed and terrified liberal minority during McCarthy's 'reign of terror' is poppycock. Then as now, all elite opinion was against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-idea-of-a-bowed-and-terrified-liberal-minority-during-mccarthy-s/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [This is no time to be precious about locating the exact individuals directly involved in this particular terrorist attack… We know who the homicidal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/this-is-no-time-to-be-precious-about-locating-the-exact-individuals/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [This week's winner for best comedy line about the war is New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer. Referring to - well, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/this-week-s-winner-for-best-comedy-line-about-the-war-is-new-york/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Lawyers tend to be bright people. They tend to be-much more than many journalists I've encountered-sticklers for detail and accuracy, and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/lawyers-tend-to-be-bright-people-they-tend-to-be-much-more-than-many/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Liberals tell amazing lies about guns and everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/liberals-tell-amazing-lies-about-guns-and-everything-else/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [There is no more a 'political middle' than there is a family in America with 2.3 children. People with opinions take sides. Contrary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/there-is-no-more-a-political-middle-than-there-is-a-family-in-america/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [When contemplating college liberals, you really regret once again that John Walker is not getting the death penalty.We need to execute people like John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/when-contemplating-college-liberals-you-really-regret-once-again-that/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [What actually happened during the Clinton presidency? No one can remember anything about it except the bimbos, the lies, and the felonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/what-actually-happened-during-the-clinton-presidency-no-one-can/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Everyone is skeptical. Only the media are not skeptical, but, then, they were also not skeptical when the administration put out the line that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/everyone-is-skeptical-only-the-media-are-not-skeptical-but-then-they/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [ Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever \[Jimmy\] Carter says, as quickly as possible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-america-safe-always-do-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-don-t-republicans-spend-all-their-airtime-attacking-the-media-for/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I cut through the nonsense with the blinding light of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-cut-through-the-nonsense-with-the-blinding-light-of-truth/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [No wonder you guys lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/no-wonder-you-guys-lost/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Democrats all claim they'll get rough with the terrorists, but they can't even face Brit Hume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/democrats-all-claim-they-ll-get-rough-with-the-terrorists-but-they/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) [Explore all 537 Ann Coulter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) ## More 14th amendment quotes > [Congress decides who becomes a citizen and how. To automatically say the 14th Amendment grants birthright citizenship, no, we can't change that. Amending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/congress-decides-who-becomes-a-citizen-and-how-to-automatically-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Nothing in the 14th Amendment or in any other constitutional provision suggests that the president may usurp legislative power to prevent a violation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/nothing-in-the-14th-amendment-or-in-any-other-constitutional/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The 14th Amendment was passed after the Civil War to apply to former slaves to ensure that they are treated like all other citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-14th-amendment-was-passed-after-the-civil-war-to-apply-to-former/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Individuals for whom no orthodox cure is available surely are entitled to select a health care approach…This right (is) specifically within,,,the 1st, 4th, 5th,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-l-bohanon/individuals-for-whom-no-orthodox-cure-is-available-surely-are/) [Luther L. Bohanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-l-bohanon/) > [The Constitution says nothing about anchor babies. The 14th Amendment says nothing about birthright citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-constitution-says-nothing-about-anchor-babies-the-14th-amendment/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The 14th Amendment was recognized right away to be problematic. The concept of person was both too narrow and too broad, and the courts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-14th-amendment-was-recognized-right-away-to-be-problematic-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I have very deep concern about the legacy of the Rehnquist court and its efforts to restrict congressional authority to enact legislation by adopting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/i-have-very-deep-concern-about-the-legacy-of-the-rehnquist-court-and/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [The Constitution is very clear: Congress has sole discretion over defining who is and who isn't a citizen and how you become one. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-constitution-is-very-clear-congress-has-sole-discretion-over/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Defending birthright citizenship is about being on the right side of liberty. The 14th Amendment is a great legacy of the Republican Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/defending-birthright-citizenship-is-about-being-on-the-right-side-of/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [The 14th Amendment, 2nd Amendment, there's nothing in the Constitution that says that if you are born to an illegal immigrant in America, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-14th-amendment-2nd-amendment-there-s-nothing-in-the-constitution/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The Court is making the preposterous assumption that the People of the United States somehow silently redefined marriage in 1868 when they ratified the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-is-making-the-preposterous-assumption-that-the-people-of/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [All children should be welcomed into the world and protected by the law. As President, I would immediately repeal President Clinton's five executive orders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/all-children-should-be-welcomed-into-the-world-and-protected-by-the/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [There's nothing in the 14th Amendment that says if you are born to a mother who is a citizen that you're automatically a citizen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-nothing-in-the-14th-amendment-that-says-if-you-are-born-to-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [These liberals are the craziest things. The Constitution, they see things in it that aren't there and ignore things which are. The 14th Amendment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/these-liberals-are-the-craziest-things-the-constitution-they-see/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I answer, because I live among men and not among angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaddeus-stevens/i-answer-because-i-live-among-men-and-not-among-angels/) [Thaddeus Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaddeus-stevens/) [Browse all 29 14th amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/14th-amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What happens is, illegal immigrants can run across the border, drop a baby, and say, 'Ha-ha, there's nothing you can do now. My kid's an American citizen.' Well, that wasn't the intent of the 14th Amendment. Americans would not agree with that. 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