Professor Villazor Publishes Op-ed in New York Times

Professor Rose Cuison Villazor has published an op-ed in "Room for Debate," a feature of the Opinion section of the New York Times. Published as part of a group of responses to the question, "Should ‘Birthright Citizenship' Be Abolished?",  Villazor's essay concerns the status of noncitizen nationals--individuals born in U.S. territories such as American Samoa who may enter and reside in the United States but do not have the right to vote, serve on juries, bear arms, or apply for federal jobs.

"Why bring up noncitizen nationals in a discussion about whether to abolish birthright citizenship?" Villazor writes.  "The resurgence of a proposal to do away with birthright citizenship fails to address the political and racial caste system that it would create, and which the framers of the 14th Amendment sought to eliminate. Indeed, as the forgotten story of noncitizen nationals shows, such a hierarchy already exists under U.S. jurisdiction."

Professor Rose Cuison Villazor joined the UC Davis faculty in 2012 from the Maurice A. Deane Law School at Hofstra University.  She has also taught at Columbia Law School and the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.  Professor Villazor teaches and writes in the areas of property law, immigration law, race, and citizenship.

New York Times

Primary Category

Tags