Chicago Mother’s Perspective on Birthright Citizenship Amid Supreme Court Review of Trump-era Case

CHICAGO (WLS) — Teresa Fraga, a long-time resident of Pilsen, originally emigrated from Mexico to the United States many years ago.

With her green card in hand, she found work as a migrant across six states. Thanks to the 14th Amendment, each of her six children holds U.S. citizenship.

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“The opportunities available to them have been remarkable,” Fraga remarked.

This amendment has opened doors for countless Americans born on U.S. soil to non-citizen parents.

In a significant move, President Donald Trump has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to support his executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship. Making history, Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the court on Wednesday.

“The core issue for the court is whether we’ve been interpreting this amendment incorrectly for the past century and a half,” explained Ed Yohnka of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.

The 14th Amendment was ratified more than 150 years ago, guaranteeing citizenship to former slaves and their children.

“It did not grant citizenship to the children of temporary visitors or illegal aliens, who have no such allegiance,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer said.

But, the ACLU and other legal experts argue automatic citizenship for people born in the U.S. goes back to English law. And in 1898, the Supreme Court affirmed its understanding of the 14th Amendment by ruling a man born to Chinese immigrants was a U.S. citizen.

“There seems to be a belief on the part of the administration that because they won a single election, the Constitution no longer applies,” Yohnka said.

But, Trump’s attorney argued it’s a new world, since billions of people are a plane ride away from having a child who is a U.S. citizen.

Based on some of the justices’ questions and comments, the ACLU is confident the high court will uphold birthright citizenship.

“Well, it’s a new world. It’s the same constitution,” U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said.