The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has submitted a legal document to the Supreme Court defending the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship as the nation’s highest court prepares to hear a related case.
In their filing, the bishops warn that eliminating birthright citizenship would “increase the susceptibility of children to statelessness,” creating a situation where minors could find themselves without legal citizenship in any nation.
The religious leaders’ intervention comes as the Supreme Court considers a case that could impact the 14th Amendment’s guarantee that individuals born on American soil automatically receive citizenship rights.
