GOP lawmaker says it will be 'difficult' to prevent 'birth tourism'

A Republican congressman on Monday warned that amending the 14th Amendment to eliminate so-called "birth tourism" could be extremely difficult.

Texas Rep. John Carter said leaders might be better served by focusing on border security than spending time and energy trying to change the Constitution.

"We all know how difficult it is to amend the Constitution," Carter said during a conference call with reporters. "Honestly, it's a process that is difficult. If people are committed to that difficulty, they will go to the states and the Congress to try to amend [it]."

Carter added that President Obama "ought to be down on the border, ought to be looking at the crisis on the border" and that "the real question should be: Go down there and figure out a solution."

Several high-profile Republican figures have endorsed the effort to change the 14th Amendment to end the practice of illegal immigrants and tourists coming to the United States to give birth so their children can obtain citizenship.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said the 14th Amendment's granting of birthright citizenship could encourage more people to enter the country illegally and the language should be changed. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) both have said Congress should examine the issue.

Carter agreed birthright citizenship is a "bad policy" but said a constitutional amendment is probably the only way to fix it, instead of with legislation or court decisions.

"I think I am a practical person as a lawyer and a former judge," he said. "[This is] the only way this can be done."

The Texas lawmaker has called on the administration to send more border patrol agents to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Obama administration has said it has added border patrol agents and has asked for $600 million in funding from Congress for border security.

The House, which is breaking its recess to return to the Capitol to vote on a $26 billion state aid package, also might vote on a border-security bill on Tuesday.