SALT LAKE CITY -- Clinton lawmaker Paul Ray wants "common sense" immigration reform and thinks a change to the 14th Amendment is part of the answer.
Ray said he has spent much of the past year studying the immigration issue, including traveling to the Mexican border and spending time with customs officers.
With help from state fiscal analysts, Ray compiled a report that he presented Monday, detailing how much money Utah taxpayers pay for health and human service programs used by children of illegal immigrants.
According to Ray's report, Utah taxpayers will spend $57.3 million in 2010 on food stamps, child care, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families when the programs are used to benefit children of illegal immigrants.
In 2008, the total cost for the same four programs when benefiting children of illegal immigrants was $25.4 million and $41.8 million in 2009.
"We have to start doing things to push the government," Ray said. "We simply can't afford to keep this up."
To start that push, Ray thinks the 14th Amendment should be changed so that children born of illegal immigrants are not granted automatic citizenship, as is the case under current federal law.
"It may seem uncompassionate or hard-nosed, but we have to take away incentives for people to come to the U.S. illegally," Ray said.
"People are coming over here just to have kids. I understand the whole intent is to start a family and have a better life, but you have to do it through the proper channels."
Ray said he will sponsor a resolution that will be sent to Congress that would change the wording of the 14th Amendment.
The first sentence of the amendment reads, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
Ray said he still has to consult with constitutional attorneys, but a simple change like removing the words "born or" from the text could solve the dilemma.
"It's altering it," Ray said. "I don't believe in repealing it. I think it's just a simple change."
Ray said his immigration reform targets all illegal immigrants, not just Hispanics.
"I'm not a racist," Ray said Monday. "I fully support (legal) immigration. Our country is full of immigrants, but it has to be done legally."
Ray also said he thinks changes must be made to make the citizenship process faster and more effective.
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