( CNN ) -- An Arizona state lawmaker 's push to end the guarantee of birthright citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants on Saturday set off a protest hundreds of miles away in Pacoima , a Los Angeles suburb . More than 1,500 people in this predominantly Latino community took part in the protest , many of them chanting `` Si , se puede , '' the Spanish version of President Obama 's 2008 campaign slogan . The protesters fear that if Arizona passes the measure , other states will follow . Arizona state Representative John Kavanagh , a Republican , has proposed that birthright citizenship , a guarantee provided by the U.S. Constitution , be taken away from children of illegal immigrants . The guarantee , courts have ruled , was established by the 14th Amendment , which extended birthright citizenship to former slaves after the Civil War . Other state legislatures are considering similar measures . Kavanagh told CNN Friday , `` Dispensing citizenship like a door prize is poor policy and greatly increases the costs of education , medicating and giving other benefits to the children of illegal aliens born here . '' CNN 's Jacqueline Hurtado contributed to this report .
1,500 protest effort to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants . Protesters fear other states will follow Arizona 's example . Lawmaker who proposed the bill says `` door prize '' citizenship is too costly .