No it's not clear at all, if you include the first sentence, realize that where you started actually follows it, and then take into consideration what was going on in the U.S. at the time the 14th amendment was written. This amendment was adopted in 1868, it was written explicitly concerning the end of slavery. The only "persons" it was actually referring to that were not "born or naturalized" in the U.S. were other former slaves who were dragged here against their will from Africa. It's dishonest, revisionist history to claim that those who worded the 14th amendment had later, undocumented immigrants in mind when they were referring to "persons". Sure, activist courts later on agreed with you, that's how the "living, breathing" Constitution is today a shadow of its original intent.
What the original framers intended can be inferred all you like, and of course it is useful to understand. However, they had the opportunity to write the amendment be explicit and very temporally based and say 'former slaves'. Instead they used 'persons'. This includes all persons - 'any person'. There were people in the US that were there who were not former slaves nor US citizens. Traders, government officials, visitors and immigrants among them.
If you want there to be an exception for undocumented workers, you just need a new amendment. Until then, as written, you are wrong. The courts disagree with you, and both Conservative and Liberals agree the courts' interpretation is the interpretation that counts, legally. There are some exceptions to this, but I think the consensus is that you are wrong.
I assume those billions are not coming exclusively out of your pocket. Let's do some simple maths.
4,000 million for tax credits.
300 million people
Assuming everyone's tax burden is the same that would make your annual contribution about 40/3 dollars or about $13.
When we include ACTC - that pushes it up to $26-30. That's more than $2 a month!
What I CAN'T BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND is why so many of you are so happy at the flood of immigration coming into this country.
I'm not sure 1 - 2 million a year net is a flood.
How do you think it will benefit you? How do you think it will benefit the country?
More people means more work gets done, enriching both US citizens and the economy. There are diminishing returns and upper limits - but the US is a big place, there's a while to go yet.
Won't it be a competition for the free stuff?
Liberals, despite your characterisation aren't trying to get 'free stuff'. And no, migrants on the whole put more into the economy than they take out. Even the illegals contribute by taking the money they earn working and spending it on stuff - to the benefit of domestic commerce and paying sales tax as well.
I know you feel sorry for the poor dears, that they really need us, and all of that. But don't you see the other pressing problems this country has?
The 'poor dears' would be the refugees. Yes, I feel sorry for them. The attitude you are broadcasting was directed at the Jews in the 30s and 40s. You should have felt sorry for them, but instead they died.
As for other pressing problems - well that's the point isn't it? There
are other pressing problems. Immigration isn't really as big a concern as all that. The way the right act and talk its a HUGE problem and spending an additional 10,000 x $50,000 (or whatever their salary is) on ICE agents for $500,000,000 a year is not really the best use of your money. The illegal immigrants in California contribute about $3 billion in tax money - $12 billion nationally (
Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy).
Given the US military's recent spectacular successes, you could look to cut some money from that $900 billion funding it receives (talk about BIG government!). The 'tremendous' alleged cost of illegal immigrants could easily be offset I'd have thought.
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