ACLU Calls On Congress To Reject Proposed Resolution To Subvert 14th Amendment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a resolution this week that would radically redefine constitutional citizenship by limiting birth citizenship to only three categories of persons: those with a parent who is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident residing in the U.S. or in active-duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces. The American Civil Liberties Union strongly opposes any attempt to subvert long-held constitutional guarantees of citizenship at birth and urges Congress to reject any proposal that would do so.

The following can be attributed to Deborah J. Vagins, ACLU Senior Legislative Counsel:

“One of the Constitution’s most essential tools to ensure equality and fairness under the law has been the guarantee of citizenship to those born on American soil, regardless of who their parents are or whether Congress approves of them. The right of citizenship at birth has long been the law of the land and for good reason. The 14th Amendment was intended to heal a great wound inflicted on our country after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dred Scott, denying citizenship to African-Americans and their descendants. Any proposed subversion of such constitutionally protected rights should be soundly rejected.”