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OP-ED
Why Black Folks Should Be Wary of Any Changes to 14th Amendment
We need to adopt a holistic approach to safeguard civil rights
The 14th Amendment established birthright citizenship, equal legal protection, and due process for formerly enslaved Africans, who had been deprived of those protections. This topic entered the limelight in recent weeks amid the backdrop of mass deportation orders carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officials. Masked federal agents have mainly targeted Black and Brown immigrant communities, igniting public condemnation from those who see these policies as cruel and arbitrary. This is part of a broader anti-immigration political framework. For example, in January, President Trump signed an executive order limiting birthright citizenship. He claimed children born to mothers without permanent citizenship or legal status are not automatically considered U.S. citizens. However, this assertion contradicts the text of the constitution, which states, "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside."
At least twenty immigrant rights groups have sued the administration over this executive order, arguing that limiting birthright citizenship in this…
