- United States
- Texas
- Letter
Uphold Constitutional Birthright Citizenship - A Foundational American Principle
To: Sen. Cruz, Sen. Cornyn, Rep. Goldman
From: A constituent in Fort Worth, TX
January 23, 2025
The principle of birthright citizenship is a fundamental tenet of the U.S. Constitution, enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment. It states that all persons born within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States are automatically granted citizenship, regardless of their parents' immigration status. This principle was reinforced by the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898, affirming that the children of immigrants born on U.S. soil are citizens. Birthright citizenship promotes inclusivity and equality, reflecting the nation's founding values. Attempts to undermine this constitutional guarantee through executive action would be unconstitutional and contrary to over a century of legal precedent. Any effort to curtail or eliminate birthright citizenship would face significant legal challenges and would ultimately fail to resolve unauthorized immigration issues. Instead, it could increase the undocumented population by creating a new class of non-citizen children. The constitutional right to birthright citizenship must be upheld to protect core American principles of due process, equal protection, and the rule of law. We urge our representatives to reject any proposals that seek to undermine this fundamental civil liberty and instead pursue comprehensive immigration reforms through the proper constitutional process.