Alberto Gonzales Backs 14th Amendment

Alberto Gonzales, White House counsel and U.S. attorney general under George W. Bush, has written an op-ed in The Washington Post pleading against changing the 14th Amendment—a desire that many citizens and Republican politicians have recently expressed. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. Gonzalez begins his plea noting that he is “the descendent of immigrants and a grateful beneficiary of the opportunities available to our nation's citizens”—Gonzalez is of Mexican descent—and goes on to say: “I do not support such an amendment… A constitutional amendment will not solve our immigration crisis. People will certainly continue to cross our borders to find a better life, irrespective of the possibilities of U.S. citizenship.” Instead, Gonzales urges the enforcement of “comprehensive immigration legislation rather than amend our Constitution.” Gonzales was forced to resign his post in as attorney general in 2007 after charges of perjury before Congress.