JACL Celebrates the Preservation of Birthright Citizenship
June 30, 2026
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Matthew Weisbly, Education Programs/Communications Manager, mweisbly@jacl.org
Seia Watanabe, VP of Public Affairs, swatanabe@jacl.org
Policy Fellows: Matthew Marumoto and Katie Masano Hill, policy@jacl.org
The JACL celebrates the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Trump v. Barbara, which reaffirms the fundamental constitutional principle that every child born in the United States has a claim to citizenship, regardless of their parent’s immigration status. Even during the profound constitutional failure inflicted upon Japanese Americans in World War II, birthright citizenship remained a critical safeguard. The Fourteenth Amendment protected the citizenship of children born in the United States, including children born to Issei parents who were classified by the government as "enemy aliens", children born to Japanese Americans who renounced their citizenship at Tule Lake, and children born to Japanese Latin Americans who were forcibly brought to the United States and incarcerated. These children's citizenship did not depend upon a government determination of their parents' loyalty, patriotism, or legal status. Their citizenship was guaranteed because they were born in the United States and protected by the Constitution.
The JACL applauds this decision as an important victory in the fight to protect constitutional rights and the rights of future generations of American born citizens. Though it is a cautious reminder of how fragile our nation and its laws can be, we must remain vigilant and ready to safeguard even the most basic rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution.
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The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.
