The U.S. Constitution provides a framework for determining who can become a citizen and under what conditions. Specifically, Article 1 and the Fourteenth Amendment lay out the overarching authority of the Congress and the guarantee that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside”, respectively.
You know that US v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) is foundational to birthright citizenship jurisprudence and that Plyler v. Doe (1982), for example, addressed the rights of children born to undocumented parents in the United States. You also have links to a variety of cases in-between and after these decisions.
Because of your objective expertise, you are asked to submit an unbiased, non-partisan report to Congress on the topic of “What the Constitution says, means, and requires in the Area of Citizenship, Naturalization, and Immigration.”
You must have an opening statement, a strong (but unopinionated) conclusion, and a narrative arc that:
- identifies and explains the relevant parts and language of the constitution, plus at least three cases;
- links history to our time;
- and communicates your message informatively, professionally, and objectively.