1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to unequivocally oppose any legislation introduced by Senator Bernie Moreno that would attempt to abolish birthright citizenship. This is not simply a debate about immigration policy. It is a debate about whether we will continue to honor the Constitution when it is politically inconvenient. The Fourteenth Amendment is explicit: people born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens of the United States. Congress cannot erase a constitutional guarantee by passing an ordinary law. If legislators can decide that one constitutional amendment no longer applies because they disagree with it, then every constitutional right becomes vulnerable. Those who support this proposal should consider the precedent they are creating. If the Fourteenth Amendment can be ignored today, what stops a future Congress from deciding the Second Amendment has outlived its usefulness? Or limiting the First Amendment because certain speech is unpopular? Once we accept that Congress can simply legislate around the Constitution, no right is secure. The Constitution is not a political suggestion. It is the foundation of our republic. If someone believes birthright citizenship should be eliminated, the Constitution already provides the proper path: propose and ratify a constitutional amendment. Anything less is an attempt to weaken the rule of law. I expect my senators to defend the Constitution in its entirety, not only the amendments that align with today’s political priorities. The strength of our republic depends on elected officials who are willing to uphold constitutional principles even when doing so is politically difficult. I urge you to reject any effort to undermine the Fourteenth Amendment and to publicly oppose legislation that attempts to abolish birthright citizenship through ordinary statute. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope you will stand firmly in defense of the Constitution and the rule of law.