This week in San Francisco, an array of events are set to honor Wong Kim Ark, a pivotal figure in the fight for birthright citizenship in the United States. His landmark Supreme Court case, decided 127 years ago, established the principle that anyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

Wong Kim Ark’s Historic Ruling

Born to Chinese immigrants in the 19th century, Wong Kim Ark’s case reached the Supreme Court, where he successfully argued for his citizenship. This week, as celebrations unfold, a plaque marking the site of his birth on Sacramento Street is set to be unveiled, serving as a reminder of his significant contribution to American legal history.

Commemorations in San Francisco’s Chinatown

On Monday, the community gathered in Chinatown to remember Ark, with his descendants, including Sandra Wong, participating in the events. “I feel really proud. It’s hard to put into words because it’s much bigger than all of us,” Wong expressed, emphasizing the importance of remembering Ark’s legacy.

Current Legal Challenges to Birthright Citizenship

Despite the historical significance of Ark’s ruling, the current political climate poses challenges to the principle of birthright citizenship. The Trump administration has proposed an executive order aimed at eliminating citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. These efforts have sparked extensive legal battles, with cases pending in courts across the nation.

Recently, Tennessee’s attorney general supported the administration’s position, arguing that the Supreme Court has not definitively addressed the breadth of the citizenship clause. Conversely, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and a coalition of state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against the administration, emphasizing that revoking this right could lead to significant social ramifications, creating a generation of stateless individuals.

“It would mean an entire generation of newborns born here in the United States wouldn’t be citizens, but they wouldn’t have citizenship anywhere else. They would literally be stateless,” said Chiu.

Looking Ahead: Wong Kim Ark Day

In honor of Wong Kim Ark, San Francisco will officially proclaim “Wong Kim Ark Day” on Friday. Two Bay Area lawmakers are expected to introduce a resolution affirming the principles of birthright citizenship at the state level—an act of solidarity in the face of ongoing political challenges.

As Hudson Liao of Asians Are Strong stated, “Now, it’s kind of reminding ourselves that we’ve always been makers of history and it’s our time to be called again to do so.” This sentiment echoes the rallying cry of community members as they stand united in preserving the rights established by Ark’s landmark case.