Press Releases

Statement from Committee of 100 on President Trump’s Executive Order to End Birthright Citizenship

24th January 2025

New York, NY – Committee of 100, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to end birthright citizenship, including a refusal to recognize the birthright citizenship of any child born in the United States to a mother who is lawfully present on a temporary basis, such as those on work or student visas, and a father who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident.

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to all individuals born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. This principle was affirmed in the 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, an American-born son of Chinese immigrants.

At present, 22 states have filed lawsuits urging the federal courts to block the implementation of this deeply harmful Executive Order.

“President Trump’s executive order to revoke birthright citizenship is a direct assault on the 14th Amendment and the very fabric of our nation,” said Gary Locke, Chair, Committee of 100.” We stand united in vehement opposition to this divisive policy and will tirelessly advocate to protect the rights of all Chinese Americans and other individuals born on U.S. soil.”

“This Executive Order is a blatant attack on a fundamental constitutional right—a right upheld by the landmark case of a son of Chinese immigrants, United States v. Wong Kim Ark,” said Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100. “For generations, the Chinese American community has faced exclusionary policies, systemic racism, and violence, despite generations of contributions to this nation. Revoking birthright citizenship represents a troubling return to discriminatory practices, disturbing settled law, and decades of progress toward inclusivity. Targeting this right is an assault on the core American values of liberty and equality. The Committee of 100 stands firmly in solidarity with all communities impacted by this unjust and divisive policy.”

“President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship is an affront to the core principles of equality and opportunity that have guided this nation for generations,” said Stewart Kwoh, Co-Founder of The Asian American Education Project and Committee of 100 Member since 1999.  “As educators, we know firsthand how the fear and uncertainty created by such policies harm our students and their families, particularly in immigrant communities. This order threatens to marginalize and disenfranchise children born on U.S. soil, many of whom belong to the AAPI community, and it risks undoing the progress we’ve made toward a more inclusive and equitable society.”

About Committee of 100

Committee of 100 is a nonprofit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For over 35 years, Committee of 100 has served as the preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org for more information.

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