1. United States
2. Letter

The Trump administration's arguments questioning the birthright citizenship of Native Americans born in the United States are deeply troubling and undermine tribal sovereignty. Citing pre-14th Amendment laws that excluded Native Americans from citizenship is a regressive stance that disregards the unique legal status and rights of tribal nations. Native Americans have an inherent right to citizenship by virtue of being born within the territorial boundaries of the United States. Attempts to characterize them as not being "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. are legally dubious and morally reprehensible. Tribal nations are sovereign entities with the right to self-governance, not "foreign powers" as the administration's brief suggests. This line of argument is part of a broader assault on the rights and protections afforded to Native peoples. It perpetuates the shameful history of policies aimed at terminating tribes and eroding their status. We must decisively reject such efforts and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the sovereignty of tribal nations and the citizenship rights of all Native Americans.