GALVIN Sablan Deleon Guerrero, an independent candidate for the U.S. Congress, issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship:
It is very reassuring that the United State Supreme Court has reaffirmed citizenship for anyone born or naturalized in the United States. In addition to protecting millions of Americans, the Court’s ruling also upholds the promise of citizenship enshrined in the CNMI’s Covenant.
As Chief Justice John G. Roberts wrote in the majority ruling, “Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights…The framers of the 14th Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land.’” As Chief Justice Roberts further wrote, “We keep that promise today.”
That promise was also set forth in Article III of the Covenant. 50 years ago, when the people of our islands chose to become a part of the American political family, they ensured that “Citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands will be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States of the United States.”
To be sure, we must be wary of bad actors that intend to abuse that provision, whether through birth tourism or immigration loopholes. As U.S. citizens, our rights come with a responsibility to protect our borders and uphold national security.
While there are many legal questions surrounding this issue, as a candidate for public office and son of the Marianas, the only question that really matters to me is this: “What does this mean for the Commonwealth?” In this case, it means that our people can continue standing proud as citizens of the United States. It means that every child born in the CNMI, every family that has built a life here, and every person who proudly calls these islands home can look to the future knowing that the promise of American citizenship endures across generations.
Indeed, as we celebrate the 80th Liberation Day, the 50th anniversary of the Covenant, and our nation’s 250th anniversary, let us never forget what our founders fought for: the right to be Americans. If elected to Congress, that’s something I will fight for, without hesitation, without question.
