Young Woon Han, standing among hundreds of demonstrators outside the Supreme Court on Thursday morning, expressed concerns about the future of his potential children.
Han, a lawful permanent resident from Korea residing and working in Columbus, Ohio, and his wife, who is also Korean and holds a U.S. work permit, are considering starting a family. The Supreme Court justices were hearing a case addressing an from former President Donald Trump that sought to limit the Constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship.
Han stated that the Administration’s efforts are causing anxiety for him and his wife as they consider becoming parents. Although their child should still be granted citizenship under Trump’s order, Han worries about further potential restrictions.
“We are afraid that the way things are going, some policy may not affect us now, but it is eventually going to affect all of us,” Han said.
Han was among approximately 500 individuals protesting outside the Supreme Court as the Justices listened to arguments in the controversial case. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here” and “Sí, se puede,” and sang Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”
The order, by Trump upon his return to office, aimed to deny citizenship to children born to parents lacking U.S. citizenship or legal residency. Several district courts temporarily blocked Trump’s action. The Supreme Court was reviewing the Administration’s request to confine these injunctions to the specific states within the respective court’s jurisdiction.
Speaking into a microphone in front of the Supreme Court building, Han urged the crowd to consider the scenario of two babies born simultaneously in different hospitals in adjacent states. “If there’s no nationwide injunction, one baby gets US citizenship and the other doesn’t. It ain’t right.”
Han displayed a sign with the phrases “Know your rights” and “Wong Kim Ark.” Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese American born in San Francisco during the 1870s, was initially denied reentry into the U.S. after visiting China in 1896 due to the Chinese Exclusion Act. However, Wong argued that the 14th Amendment protected his citizenship. The Supreme Court sided with Wong in 1898, affirming the principle of universal birthright citizenship in the U.S. in a 6-to-2 decision.
Several members of Congress spoke to the protestors gathered outside the courthouse. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Illinois) emphasized the personal significance of defending birthright citizenship at a national level. “I am a birthright citizen. My mother and my father were undocumented when I was born. And they raised me to fight for justice, to speak truth to power and to see our shared humanity.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington also mentioned that she is one of 19 naturalized U.S. citizens who have served in Congress.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) joined the demonstrators in front of the courthouse steps, reading aloud the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. The crowd applauded when the former Speaker of the House read the passage stating that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” Pelosi encouraged continued activism, stating, “The outside mobilization is very, very important. Know your power.”
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