Birthright Citizenship & Wong Kim Ark’s Victory
Program Description: The program focuses on birthright citizenship - a fundamental right often taken for granted yet deeply rooted in legal precedent and history. We will anchor our discussion in the landmark 1898 U.S. Supreme Court case, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed that children born in the United States to immigrant parents are citizens under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Who was Wong Kim Ark and what was his story? Why does his victory before the U.S. Supreme Court matter today? Born in San Francisco, Wong Kim Ark was denied entry to the U.S. after a trip to China. The discussion will start with a brief historical overview of the social and political landscape during Wong Kim Ark’s times, how his plight was litigated and resolved through the court system, and how Executive Order 14160 (signed Jan. 20, 2025) reinterprets and raises questions about what birthright citizenship means today. This portion will be presented by Judge Andrea Chin, Seattle Municipal Court, Judge Joan Churchill, Immigration Judge (retired) and Lorraine Lee, WIN Founder.
Then Naghmana Sherazi, Community Outreach Lead for HAPPEN, will moderate a discussion with three phenomenal leaders from our community of state employees: Grace Huang Senior Policy Adviser, Governor’s Policy Office, Nicholas Vann, first Executive Sponsor of HAPPEN, and Representative Janice Zahn, 41st Legislative District, Washington State House of Representatives. The speakers will share their perspectives and reflect on the significance of the Wong Kim Ark decision, the impacts and effects of the current controversies over immigration policies and birthright citizenship on immigrant communities today.