Asian Wisconzine Section/Heidi M. Pascual
APIAVote Responds to Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Birthright Citizenship Case
Washington, DC – Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case that challenges the long-standing constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
For AAPI communities, the question of who is recognized as American is not abstract. AAPI communities have a long history of exclusion from citizenship, from laws that explicitly barred Asian immigrants from naturalization to policies that denied basic rights and recognition. Despite these barriers, our families have contributed to building this country across generations, often while being denied the very rights that birthright citizenship now protects.
Today’s case represents a direct challenge to that progress. Efforts to reinterpret or restrict birthright citizenship undermines constitutional protections and places millions of children and families at risk of exclusion.
“Birthright citizenship was a direct response to the legacy of slavery and an attempt, during Reconstruction, to define citizenship on equal terms. Since then, who can become a citizen has been tested and expanded, but birthright citizenship has never been questioned and it remains fundamental to who we are as a country," said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote.
“For AAPI communities, this history is deeply personal. Many of our grandparents and great-grandparents were barred from citizenship, yet still helped build this country. History clearly shows that when we choose inclusion over exclusion, both our communities and our nation thrive. Ending birthright citizenship would turn back the clock to a darker era of inequality, and it is a mistake we cannot afford to make.”
As the Supreme Court considers this case, APIAVote calls for a decision that upholds the Constitution and affirms the longstanding precedent that citizenship is a right guaranteed at birth. We also urge policymakers, advocates, and communities across the country to remain vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms that define American democracy.
At a time when the nation faces critical questions about inclusion, identity, and belonging, APIAVote reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that all communities have a voice in shaping the future of this country.
Citizenship is the foundation of that voice, and protecting it is essential to a democracy where everyone has the opportunity to participate and be heard.
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About APIAVote: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. See our website for more information at https://www.apiavote.org/
