Will a two-tier citizen system emerge?
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With the current Congressional debate over aliens living in the US, will the notion of citizenship change?
For example, could a person legally live in the US without being a citizen? Today that is allowed with "green cards", student visas, guest worker permits, and other exemptions.
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But there are many people -- maybe as many as 10 million -- that reside in the US illegally without having a legal permit. What should be done with them?
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Maybe Congress will move to a two level system. Citizens have all rights and protections. Residents have the protections of living in the country but do not have all privileges.
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If such a 2-class system is established, what happens to citizens that lose privileges or rights? For example, convicted criminals lose the right to own firearms, vote, the right to live in certain locations, or the right to hold certain jobs. Are these people still citizens?
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