Citizenship

UK Stands Firm on Shamima Begum’s Citizenship Revocation Amid Calls for Reassessment of Repatriation Policies

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London, UK – In a complex intersection of national security and human rights, Shamima Begum, a UK citizen who joined the Islamic State at 15, has been denied a Supreme Court challenge to regain her British citizenship, a decision confirmed in August. This development raises enduring questions about the UK’s strategy dealing with former IS members and their state’s obligation toward them. Begum’s saga began when she traveled from her home in Bethnal Green, east London, to Syria in 2015. She was subsequently “married off” to an IS fighter. Stripped of her UK citizenship in … Read more

Trump to Revive Antique Laws for Modern Challenges on Immigration and Birthright Citizenship

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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up to harness historic U.S. laws to propel his administrative policies, especially concerning immigration and border security, as he prepares to take office. Trump plans to revisit antiquated legal theories and statues, some of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, to execute his agenda, which could lead to significant legal confrontations. Among the old laws Trump intends to activate is the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, initially enacted to address national security concerns during wartime, which he aims to use to accelerate the deportation of immigrants. … Read more

Arizona Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Demanding Citizenship Checks on Voters

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PHOENIX — An attempt by an Arizona nonprofit to compel county recorders to verify the citizenship of over 40,000 voters just weeks before an election was denied by a federal judge. The ruling stated that the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona did not demonstrate standing, as they failed to show how they were directly harmed by the alleged lack of citizenship checks in federal-only voter registrations. Judge Krissa Lanham, in her 22-page decision, emphasized that even if such voters were found to be non-citizens, the claim that this would dilute legitimate votes was insufficient to … Read more

Arizona Election Official to Sue Over Citizenship Verification, Potentially Impacting 97,000 Voters

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PHOENIX, Ariz. — An impending legal action by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer could prevent nearly 100,000 Arizonans from participating in state and local elections this season. Richer plans to file a lawsuit contending that these individuals have not complied with state laws requiring documented proof of citizenship to vote in these elections. Arizona’s legislation differs for federal elections, wherein only an affirmation of U.S. citizenship is necessary. However, to partake in state and local ballots, more stringent requirements demand tangible citizenship documentation—often resulting from concerns related to noncitizen voting, despite it being a rare … Read more