169 U.S. 649 (1898)
In the landmark case of Bureau of Immigration v. Wong Kim Ark, the United States Supreme Court addressed the constitutional principle of jus soli or 'right of the soil,' a doctrine embedded in the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Does the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grant U.S. citizenship to a person born in the United States to foreign parents who were legally residing in the U.S.?
Under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, any person born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction is automatically granted American citizenship.
The Supreme Court held that Wong Kim Ark was a U.S. citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment, as he was born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.
This case is crucial for law students and scholars of constitutional law as it established a clear and enduring interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Its significance lies in reaffirming the doctrine of jus soli, ensuring that birthright citizenship applies regardless of parental nationality. This decision also set a precedent for future rulings related to citizenship and immigration policies, solidifying the legal understanding of what it means to be a U.S. citizen.