I hope I'm not coming across as trying to defend the idiot, and I don't think he was a good choice for the university to invite to speak. To me he's just an extreme example that forces consideration of some bigger issues.

Our rights here in the U.S. do not, and NEVER DID, have anything to do with CITIZENSHIP. They protect everybody and anybody who is on U.S. soil or under U.S. law. Anyone who comes here has those same rights extended to them. Things like voting and holding certain public offices aren't "inalienable rights", but privledges, and can be limited to citizens. The right to COME here, or STAY here is NOT an "inalienable right", so throw the bum out!

The whole Guantanamo and extreme renditions fiasco was an attempt to get around this, buy detaining prisoners outside of US borders where that wouldn't apply. Even the current administration's most extreme conservatives understood this principle enough to try to find a way around it.