Birthright Citizenship
Birthright Citizenship and Allegiance: Behind the Brief
On April 29, 2026, APIAVote co-hosted a compelling webinar exploring the stories and legal strategy behind the amicus brief filed by Professor Eric L. Muller in the Supreme Court case Trump v. Barbara. In this engaging “fireside” chat, Professor Muller is joined by counsel on the brief, John Nakahata and Rachel Grossman, and by Larry Oda, whose family history bears witness to the enduring promise of the Fourteenth Amendment, that All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.
Read the full Amicus Curiae Brief of Professor Eric L. Muller.
Defend Birthright Citizenship
Birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of American democracy—guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and affirmed for over a century. That principle was upheld in 1898, when the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that a child born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants was a U.S. citizen. The ruling ensures that anyone born in the United States, regardless of their parent’ immigration status, is a U.S. citizen. Today, that fundamental right is under threat. Any efforts to challenge or reinterpret birthright citizenship are attempts to redefine who belongs in this country.
What This Means for AAPI Communities
For many Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) families, this issue hits close to home. Our communities include immigrants, mixed‑status households, and first‑generation Americans whose citizenship depends on this constitutional guarantee. Undermining birthright citizenship would create anxiety and instability, especially for children, and could open the door to confusion, discrimination, and obstacles to basic rights and services.
Birthright citizenship is not merely a legal debate. Challenging it sends a troubling message about who should be considered an American.
Click here for this video with Chinese subtitles
.Supreme Court Oral Arguments
On April 1, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments that could fundamentally influence how citizenship is defined in this country. The outcome will affect AAPI communities and shape the lives of future generations.
Take Action
The stakes are high. We cannot stay silent.
- If you’re in the DC area: come out to the rally and stand with others who are defending birthright citizenship and show that our communities belong.
- If you’re elsewhere, you can still take part by speaking up online. Share information, uplift community voices, and challenge efforts that put our rights at risk.
This is about our families, our communities, and the future generations. Many of us are here because birthright citizenship gave our families the chance to build a future. It’s on us to make sure that promise is still there for those who follow.
If you can show up in person, please do. If you can’t, speak up in whatever way you can. Your voice matters more than you may realize.
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