1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

President Trump's attempts to end birthright citizenship by executive order threaten a core Constitutional principle that has stood for over 150 years. The 14th Amendment's guarantee of citizenship for all persons "born or naturalized in the United States" is unambiguous, and the Supreme Court affirmed this understanding in 1898. Overturning such a longstanding and fundamental right should not be pursued through unilateral executive action. Furthermore, the administration's claim that birthright citizenship incentivizes illegal immigration is unsupported by evidence. Undoing this right would create a population of stateless individuals within our borders, contradicting American ideals of equality and human rights. It would also potentially put the United States in violation of international laws and treaties regarding nationality. I urge you to take action to protect this essential Constitutional guarantee and American value. Congress should pass legislation affirming birthright citizenship to prevent any unlawful executive overreach on this matter. Preserving this founding principle is vital to upholding the integrity of the Constitution and our identity as a nation of immigrants.