25 LC 112 2829
Senate Resolution 123
By: Senators Islam Parkes of the 7th, Jones II of the 22nd, Esteves of the 35th, Mangham of
the 55th, McLaurin of the 14th and others
A RESOLUTION
Affirming birthright citizenship as a constitutional right; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, the strength of America is and always has been founded in our exceptional2
diversity, which underpins our economy, energizes our culture, and ensures us a vibrant and3
prosperous future; and4
WHEREAS, since our nation's founding, people from every nation on earth, speaking every5
language on earth, have come to America in search of opportunity, worked to build6
prosperity and security for their families, and helped create our communities, our industries,7
and our institutions; and8
WHEREAS, the right to citizenship for the children of those immigrants has helped those9
communities, industries, and institutions flourish generation after generation; and10
WHEREAS, birthright citizenship ensures that our national identity is defined not by blood,11
but by a shared commitment to building our nation together on a foundation of liberty,12
equality, and self-governance; and13
S. R. 123
- 1 - 25 LC 112 2829
WHEREAS, the 1844 New York state court case Lynch v. Clarke established a legal
14
precedent that persons born in the United States to visiting parents are United States citizens15
by right of birth; and16
WHEREAS, in 1868 the Fourteenth Amendment enshrined birthright citizenship in17
Constitutional law by stating unambiguously that "all persons born or naturalized in the18
United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of19
the State wherein they reside" by right of birth; and20
WHEREAS, in 1898 in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the Supreme Court reinforced that21
children born in the United States to immigrant parents are United States citizens by right of22
birth; and23
WHEREAS, most living Americans trace their citizenship to an ancestor with foreign-born24
parents who acquired citizenship by right of birth; and25
WHEREAS, the Trump Administration's current assault on birthright citizenship is not just26
unconstitutional but an offense against American values.27
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body28
reaffirm birthright citizenship as a fundamental right in accordance with the ideals of this29
nation, the United States Constitution, and more than a century of settled constitutional law.30
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed31
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the32
press.33
S. R. 123
- 2 -