Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold birthright citizenship:

 

“Today, the Supreme Court upheld one of our nation’s fundamental rights: if you are born here, you are an American citizen and entitled to the rights and protections guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to our Constitution. 

 

“For more than a year, the Trump administration has repeatedly sought to erode immigrants’ rights by undermining due process, targeting lawful residents, and attempting to redefine who belongs in this country. Its effort to end birthright citizenship was among its most extreme attempts to ignore the plain text of the Constitution and divide Americans based on who they are and where they come from. Today, the Court rejected that effort. 

 

“Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the Constitution and no president has the authority to unilaterally strip it away. The United States has been strengthened by those who come here in search of opportunity, and today's decision reaffirms that our Constitution, not the president, defines who is an American.”