Assemblymember’s bill defends birthright citizenship, heads to final vote

(FOX40.COM) — Assemblymember Alex Lee authored an Assembly Joint Resolution five, which passed the Senate floor on Tuesday and now faces the Assembly Floor for a final vote.

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While the federal government has proposed denying citizenship to children of non-citizen parents, it is currently blocked by legal challenges, according to officials. Lee’s bill affirms the California Legislature’s commitment to ensure birthright citizenship.

“Birthright citizenship is a bedrock of the American Dream,” said Lee.

In 1989, birthright citizenship was ratified in the 14th Amendment, according to lee. The U.S. Supreme Court case of U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark reaffirmed birthright citizenship, decades later, to those born in the U.S.

The assemblymember said that the new bill commemorates the 127th anniversary of the case and is sponsored by the Chinese for Affirmative Action.

“AJR 5 shows the nation that the California State Legislature is committed to defending birthright citizenship, and the deep-rooted legal precedent set by the landmark Supreme Court case of Wong Kim Ark,” Lee said.