Constitutional Accountability Center Constitutional Accountability Center

Immigration and Citizenship

Using the Constitution’s text and history to protect the constitutional rights of American citizens and immigrants
i
Eastern European Jewish war orphans arrive in the United States | American Jewish Joint Distribution Center

Summary

The Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause is one of the most important provisions of the Constitution, guaranteeing birthright citizenship. CAC uses this and other constitutional provisions, along with federal statutes, to ensure that the rights of all are secured.

Immigration and Citizenship in Brief

Naturalization ceremony in Atlanta, GA | David Lienemann, White House Archives

CAC fights in the courts and in the public square against continuing attacks on immigrants and their rights, the power of the federal government to regulate immigration, and the Constitution’s protection of birthright citizenship.

Featured Case

Immigration and Citizenship July 21, 2022

Dubon Miranda v. Garland

Marvin Dubon Miranda has lived in the United States for more than ten years. In 2019, the government took him into custody and initiated deportation proceedings against him. Although the immigration laws allow people in Dubon Miranda’s position to be released on bond while their cases proceed, the immigration judge who conducted his bond hearing—following executive branch policy—placed the burden on him to demonstrate that he would not be a flight risk or a danger to the community if released. Under this standard, the government does not need to justify its continued detention of people in deportation proceedings by showing that the person...

Case Timeline

Current
  • CAC files amicus curiae brief
  • Fourth Circuit issues its decision
  • The Fourth Circuit hears oral argument

Related Issue Areas

Civil and Human Rights See More
Criminal Justice See More