A coalition led by the Hindu American Foundation is making waves in the US Supreme Court with a compelling defense of birthright citizenship. Alongside 57 fellow religious groups, HAF submitted an amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara on February 26, directly challenging the Trump administration’s January 2025 executive order to curb this constitutional guarantee.
The brief paints a stark picture: restricting citizenship by birth would heighten anxiety in immigrant households and erode the religious diversity that defines modern America. HAF insists the 14th Amendment leaves no ambiguity—birth on US soil equals citizenship, a shield for vulnerable families.
Elevating the discourse, the foundation invokes Hindu scriptures. The Maha Upanishad’s vision of global kinship contrasts narrow-minded division, while the Taittiriya Upanishad mandates treating visitors as divine. ‘Hindu tradition teaches us to embrace the world as family,’ HAF declares, linking ancient wisdom to contemporary justice.
Nidhi Shah, the foundation’s top legal mind, reflects on real struggles: ‘I’ve witnessed families enduring the trials of relocation, child-rearing in alien cultures, and safeguarding their heritage. Birthright citizenship ensures they feel secure here.’
This case spotlights broader tensions around the 14th Amendment, born from Civil War reconstruction to affirm citizenship universally. As the court deliberates, HAF and allies warn of a divided future without this protection, calling for a ruling that honors America’s inclusive foundations and protects its evolving mosaic of faiths.