Scholars’ Circle – Birthright Citizenship, its Historic Roots in Immigration, Slavery, & Indigenous Peoples – April 26, 2026

Scholars’ Circle – Birthright Citizenship, its Historic Roots in Immigration, Slavery, & Indigenous Peoples – April 26, 2026

April 26, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

The episode explores the historic roots of birthright citizenship in relation to immigration, slavery, and indigenous peoples as the US Supreme Court deliberates its future.

As the US Supreme Court deliberates over the future of birthright citizenship, we explore its historic roots in light of immigration, slavery, and indigenous peoples. How do contemporary ideas of birthright citizenship fit with those of the past? How might these ideas influence the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision? [ dur: 58mins. ] Anna Law holds the Herbert Kurz Chair in Constitutional Rights at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. She is the author of The Immigration Battle in American Courts and Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship: African Americans, Native Americans, and Immigrants . Julie Novkov is the Dean of the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy and Professor of Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University at Albany.She is the author of Donald Trump, Constitutional Failure, and the Guardrails of Democracy and co-author of American by Birth: Wong Kim Ark and the Battle for Citizenship . Gabriel “Jack” Chin is Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Legal Education at UC Davies School of Law. The U.S. Supreme Court has cited his work in two cases: Chaidez v. United States…

People in this episode

Guests: Anna Law, Julie Novkov, Gabriel “Jack” Chin

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brooklyn College, City University of New York, University at Albany, UC Davies School of Law

Books & works: The Immigration Battle in American Courts, Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship: African Americans, Native Americans, and Immigrants, Donald Trump, Constitutional Failure, and the Guardrails of Democracy, American by Birth: Wong Kim Ark and the Battle for Citizenship, Birthright Citizenship, Slave Trade Legislation, and the Origins of Federal Immigration Regulation, A Nation of White Immigrants: State and Federal Racial Preferences for White Noncitizens

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