FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2026
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WASHINGTON – Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, the national racial justice organization, issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling to protect birthright citizenship, as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, affirms a foundational principle of our democracy: that citizenship cannot be denied based on race, ancestry, immigration status, or the circumstances of one’s birth.
“The 14th Amendment was born out of the struggle for Black freedom after slavery and remains one of the most important civil rights protections in our Constitution. It was written to ensure that Black people—formerly enslaved and long denied full recognition under the law—would be recognized as citizens with equal protection and due process. Today, that same constitutional promise protects all people born in the United States, including the children of immigrants.

“This decision is especially important in the current political environment when both Black and immigrant communities continue to face efforts to restrict their rights, question their belonging, and divide us from one another. Black America knows the painful history of having citizenship challenged and rights denied. Immigrant communities know the ongoing harm of being treated as outsiders in the very nation they help build every day. Our histories are not the same, but our struggles are connected by a shared demand for dignity, equality, and full inclusion.

“Birthright citizenship is not only a legal guarantee; it is a civil rights victory rooted in the unfinished promise of Reconstruction and essential to the future of a just, multiracial democracy. Immigrants have always contributed to every aspect of American life—from culture and community to labor, innovation, and the economy. Their children, born here, are Americans. Their belonging should never be questioned or subject to political attack.

“While we affirm this decision, we know the fight continues. The promise of the 14th Amendment remains unfinished as long as Black people, immigrants, and communities of color face attacks on their rights, safety, and humanity. At Race Forward, we remain committed to building a country where everyone has the right to prosper, belong, and live freely.”

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