United States vs Wong Kim Ark

Permalink

https://omeka-s.library.illinois.edu/s/ias/item/3828
Title
United States vs Wong Kim Ark
Description
Wong Kim Ark was a Chinese American born in 1873 in San Francisco, California. His parents were subjects of the Emperor of China residing in America. Wong Kim traveled regularly to China to visit family and upon his return from a trip in 1895 was barred from reentry. Wong Kim asserted his right to entry as a US citizen which was challenged by the Immigration Bureau, which assumed that no Chinese person could hold US citizenship. The Supreme Court ruled that the 14th amendment granted birthright citizenship to anyone born in the United States regardless of race or parental status.