Washington is buzzing as the Hindu American Foundation teams up with dozens of faith groups in a Supreme Court amicus brief defending birthright citizenship. Filed in the Trump v. Barbara case on February 26, the submission counters a controversial January 2025 executive order from the Trump administration seeking to end automatic citizenship for children of immigrants born in the US.
HAF’s stance is unequivocal: the 14th Amendment’s clear language grants citizenship to anyone born on American soil, a protection vital for immigrant families feeling the chill of policy shifts. ‘Since January, parents have been gripped by fear,’ the foundation notes, pointing to the ripple effects on family stability and religious pluralism.
Infusing the argument with Hindu philosophy, HAF cites scriptures promoting vasudhaiva kutumbakam—the world as one family—and the sacred duty to honor guests. These principles, they argue, align with America’s ethos of openness, making birthright citizenship a bridge between constitution and conscience.
Nidhi Shah, HAF’s senior legal director, brings a personal touch: ‘These families fight daily to build lives, raise kids, and preserve traditions in a new world. Birthright citizenship is their anchor.’ Her words underscore the human stakes in this legal showdown.
With immigration policies under the microscope, this coalition of 58 religious organizations positions the issue as a test of America’s commitment to diversity. Upholding birthright citizenship, they contend, safeguards not just rights but the nation’s multicultural soul, echoing the 14th Amendment’s post-Civil War promise of equality for all born under the Stars and Stripes.