HIAS welcomes today’s 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Barbara, which reaffirms a fundamental constitutional promise: that children born in the United States are citizens of the United States. The Court’s ruling rejects an attempt to undermine the clear protections of the Fourteenth Amendment and preserves a principle that has defined American citizenship for more than a century.
“The promise of birthright citizenship has allowed generations of immigrant families, including in our own Jewish community, to put down roots, build lives, and contribute to this country,” said Beth Oppenheim, HIAS President & CEO. “As we reflect on 250 years of U.S. history, it is worth remembering that the United States has been shaped by the children and grandchildren of immigrants. Their stories are part of America’s story, and without them, the country we know today would be fundamentally different.”
HIAS was proud to join 57 faith-based organizations representing Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and Hindu communities in an amicus brief affirming the shared moral commitment to human dignity, belonging, and equal protection under the law. At a time when refugee resettlement, asylum, and other protections are under sustained attack, today’s decision is a critical reminder that no administration is above the Constitution.
HIAS is currently involved in multiple legal challenges to the administration’s anti-immigrant agenda, including lawsuits defending refugee resettlement and other humanitarian safeguards. We will continue to stand alongside our partners, clients, and communities in the courts and beyond to fight for the safety and rights of immigrants and refugees.
Read here for more information on Birthright Citizenship
Read here for information on HIAS’ involvement with legal challenges to the Trump Administration
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