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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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Bethany Khan | [email protected]

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The Nevada Immigrant Coalition marks the 250th anniversary of this country with the U.S. Supreme Court affirming the right to birthright citizenship for all Americans

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” – U.S. Constitution, 14th Amendment, 1868

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Las Vegas, NV – On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States has issued a 6 to 3 ruling on Trump v. Barbara, upholding birthright citizenship. The case sought to challenge Donald Trump’s ability to end birthright citizenship, as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, via unlawful executive order. 

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC) remains firm in its support for the right of every child born in this country to be recognized as a U.S. citizen.

“Today the Supreme Court did not grant anyone a right. It recognized a right that already exists. The Fourteenth Amendment did not suddenly appear because a court acknowledged it. Children born on this soil were Americans from the moment they took their first breath, irrespective of who their parents are, what their race is, or their immigration status,” said Noé Orosco, Coalition Coordinator for the Nevada Immigrant Coalition. “For generations, immigrant families have planted roots in this country. They have worked the fields, built businesses, taught in the classrooms, and served in the military. They have contributed not as guests waiting for permission to belong, but as neighbors, parents, and citizens in every sense of that matter. This ruling should never have been necessary. Constitutional rights are not prizes to be awarded. The Constitution exists precisely to stop those in power from deciding one group of people deserve fewer rights than another. Our communities may have different journeys for how they got here, but there is one truth. None of our humanity is up for debate.”

Today, we welcome the decision by the United States Supreme Court in Trump v. Barbara, which reaffirms one of our earliest promises in the Constitution, that if you’re born in the United States, you are a United States citizen,” said Quentin Savwoir, President of NAACP Las Vegas Branch #1111. “Birthright citizenship is not a political talking point. It is rooted in the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War to ensure that this nation would never again deny citizenship based on race, ancestry, or status.” 

“I’m proudly the daughter of immigrants from Guyana who were working in the shadows, paying taxes, and hoping for a chance at the American Dream. I was born when both of my parents were undocumented and working hard to provide for our family. Every day, my mom and dad lived in fear that the life they were building for us could be ripped away in an instant,” said Bethany Khan, Spokeswoman for the Culinary Union and member of the Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC) Steering Committee. “I am a U.S. citizen because the 14th Amendment guarantees that everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen, no matter where our parents came from. It’s a promise that has protected me and given my entire family a chance to thrive. The Trump administration wanted to end birthright citizenship so that future generations of children who were born here, raised here, and belong here, could suddenly find themselves without a country. The U.S. Constitution mandates that birthright citizenship is a right. It keeps millions of families together and that’s why we organized to protect it. We continue to call on political leaders to stand with immigrant workers, working families, and protect our Constitutional rights.”

“We are pleased by the decision issued this morning by the Supreme Court in Trump v Barbara, and the reason why is because there has been concern nationwide about whether or not the president has the authority with one stroke of a pen to eliminate plain language from our United States Constitution and overrun constitutional provisions as a result,” said Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada. “On this specific decision, though, it does put to bed and put to rest this notion that the president, by way of executive order, can simply do away with the Constitution, and for communities that are worried not only about whether or not their kids are going to be considered US citizens, but whether or not the administration can simply continue to engage in executive orders and issue executive orders to undermine key constitutional provisions, the decision says that they can’t.”

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is not a moment of celebration. It affirms something that we have known for more than half of this country’s 250-year history, that citizenship is not conditioned on ancestry, wealth, or the politics of the day,” said Natalie Nguyen, with One APIA Nevada. “This principle was previously tested in the courts, and it was affirmed in a case that matters deeply to AANHPI history: United States v. Wong Kim Ark. 128 years ago, Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, was denied re-entry into the US on claims that he was not a US citizen. The Supreme Court affirmed, and all three branches of government have followed it ever since, that birth in the US, and not the status of one’s parents, determines citizenship under the Constitution. So today’s decision by the Supreme Court is not something abstract for AANHPI communities. Nevada is home to more than 450,000 AANHPI residents, and that’s about one in every eight Nevadans. Our communities are the fastest-growing in the state and the nation, and we make up about 13% of Nevada’s electorate. For AANHPI communities, this moment sits within a longer history.”

“Today the Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision that holds the fundamental right of every child born on American soil to be recognized as a full and equal member of our community. As an educator of teenagers, I’m optimistic that this ruling will provide students from immigrant families with the stability, belonging, and opportunities they require to flourish in school,” said Maria Pena, Educator at Desert Pines High School. “An institution where parents can confidently walk in and enroll their sons and daughters without fear of scrutiny over their personal information, without having to produce Social Security cards or other documents as proof of citizenship, as I was able to do many years ago, when my daughter was about to enter pre-K.”

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The Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC), led by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN), Culinary Union, and Make the Road Nevada, with support from over 20 statewide partners, has mobilized in response to the surges in ICE activity in Northern and Southern Nevada.

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC) urges members of the immigrant community to know their rights, have family preparedness plans in place, and be aware of ICE officers in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles. All Nevadans, regardless of immigration status, have rights and deserve due process.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:

If ICE stops you . . .

*You can ask the officers if you are being detained, if you are not, then you are free to leave.

*You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions regarding your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the United States.

*Do not physically resist a government official and do not run away.

*If you are 18 or over, and a non-citizen, an immigration officer may request to see your immigration documents.  If you have your documents, the law requires you to share them if you have them.

*If you do not have your immigration documents, you still have the right to remain silent and ask for an attorney.

*Do not provide false documents to officials.

If ICE comes to your home . . .

*In most circumstances, you are not required to open the door for ICE if they don’t have a judicial warrant. A Judicial warrant is a document that is signed by a judge.

*You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions.

If ICE takes you into custody . . .

*You have the right to ask to speak with an attorney.

*You have the right to not sign any document that you do not understand. Even if the ICE officers are persistent and want to pressure you, do not sign.

*In certain cases, you can request to see the immigration judge. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to ask for bail to be released from custody.

*You have the right to request to contact your country’s consulate for help.

*If you have minor children, let the officers know that you are the parent or primary caregiver. ICE may “exercise discretion” and let you go.

To find loved ones who may have been detained: Search the ICE Detainee Locator.

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ABOUT THE NEVADA IMMIGRANT COALITION: 

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC), founded in 2006, ensures immigrant, refugee, and new American voices are heard at a local, state, and federal level to advocate for humane and fair immigration policies. The Nevada Immigrant Coalition focuses on strengthening a network that provides services, resources, and deportation defense to immigrants and refugees across the state while strategically organizing around issues that are important to all Nevadans. We believe in working towards a Nevada that welcomes, respects, and protects everyone regardless of their immigration status.

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