Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco, was denied re-entry by customs in 1895 due to his parents' undocumented status, despite the 14th Amendment guaranteeing citizenship. He contested this and won, affirming birthright citizenship for those born in the U.S., a cornerstone of immigration law. Recently, President Trump signed an executive order to negate this ruling, targeting U.S.-born children of undocumented parents, leading to legal challenges. A federal judge called the order unconstitutional, reflecting the ongoing tensions around immigration and citizenship rights introduced since Wong's significant case.
The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutional guarantee of automatic citizenship for nearly all children born in the United States, a right that has deep roots in common law.
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order declaring that the government would stop treating U.S.-born children of parents who are undocumented or are in the country temporarily as U.S. citizens.
Last week, the order was indefinitely blocked. One federal judge called it blatantly unconstitutional, showcasing the ongoing legal struggles around birthright citizenship.
Since that 1898 ruling, that expansive understanding of birthright citizenship has been the law of the land, now challenged by the current administration's policies.
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