What does it mean to be a second-class citizen? A second-class citizen refers to a foreign-born citizen in America who is not fully recognized. He or she has limited rights as pointed out in the constitution. An individual may be a resident, but he or she does not enjoy the fruits of living in America like a natural born citizen. For example, they are not allowed to participate in an important exercise likesuch as voting. The tag ‘second class citizen’ is in itself demeaning; hence the need to introduce an amendment that addresses this pertinent issue in its entirety (Kennedy and Jim, 79).
The reason for seeking to introduce an amendment is to offer second-class citizens equal rights, because each human being desires to live in an area wthereat he or she is comfortable in. This is possible by living in a society where the individuals isare allowed to enjoy all civil liberties, just likeas natural born citizens. Other than enabling citizens to gain access to initially restricted privileges, the amendment will help to create a fertile ground for current and future coexistence among the citizenry (Kennedy and Jim, 81). The world is fast evolving into a global village where physical or regional boundaries do not limit your area of residence, or where you work. This is a reality that needs to be acknowledged, and necessary mechanisms are set in place to ensure compliance (Kennedy and Jim, 83).
Why is the amendment is necessary? The amendment serves a number of purposes; one being enabling people to vote. Voting is an exercise that has a profound effect. The power of choosing a leader is an essential ingredient for democracy. It allows the individual to control their destiny. It is estimated that America hosts about twenty million foreign-born citizens. This is a large number, hence their electoral rights need to be considered. A person living in a nation for many years should be allowed the opportunity to become citizens enjoying all civil rights (Hamlett, 97). If a nation can allow individuals who are deemed to be foreign-born citizens to participate in the military or any other government initiative;, then such an individual should be allowed the full citizenship. The amendment, however, does not intend to give foreigners a ‘blank cheque’ in issues of citizenship. Various rules and regulations must be adhered to, and qualified individuals accorded the opportunity (Hamlett, 101).
The amendment would also recognize the need to have equal rights atin the workplace. Being born in another nation may not mean an individual lacks the competence to perform his or her role in the workplace well. Among the foreign-born citizenry, there are numerous highly qualified people who, if accorded equal rights, they could assist the nation to further its future developmental agenda (Hamlett, 107).
The government should not look at these individuals merely on the basis of their foreign background. Instead, it should consider them as a vital individuals who will contribute to the