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Unmaking Americans: Insecure Citizenship in the United States

  • When
  • September 17, 2019 5:30–7:30 p.m.
  • Where
  • Open Society Foundations–New York
    224 West 57th Street
    New York, NY 10019
    United States of America
  • Speakers
  • Amanda Baran, Laura Bingham, Patrick Gaspard, Maryam Saleh, and Manar Waheed
Panelists sitting on a stage
1:27:52

Whether obtained through birth or naturalization, American citizenship is American citizenship. In the darkest moments of U.S. history, though, political leaders have exploited citizenship laws to promote nativist ideologies and regressive political agendas. The legacy of this exploitation is the abandonment of longstanding legal norms and protections currently eroding the fundamental promise of equality in the United States. 

A new report from the Open Society Justice Initiative details the history of these efforts, which paved the way for the Trump administration to threaten the citizenship of Americans based on national origin, race, religion, and other factors.

This event, held on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, explores the current crisis as well as potential remedies to strengthen not only U.S. citizenship, but also the shared stories and values that shape and define the nation.

Speakers

  • Amanda Baran

    Moderator

    Amanda Baran is an attorney, policy strategist, and writer with expertise in immigration law and policy and gender-based violence who serves as a consultant for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

  • Laura Bingham

    Speaker

    Until October 2021, Laura Bingham was the senior managing legal officer for equality and inclusion in the Open Society Justice Initiative.

  • Patrick Gaspard

    Introduction

    Until December 2020, Patrick Gaspard was president of the Open Society Foundations.

  • Maryam Saleh

    Speaker

    Maryam Saleh is an editor and reporter at The Intercept, where she focuses on immigration and politics.

  • Manar Waheed

    Speaker

    Manar Waheed is senior legislative and advocacy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Read more

Event Recap

A Shameful History of Weaponizing Citizenship

Panelists sitting on a stage

While the revocation of citizenship is not unprecedented in the United States, its history—and its implications for the future—raise profound questions about the nature of citizenship, Americanness, and democracy itself.

December 11, 2019

THE FUTURE OF JUSTICE

Open Society President Patrick Gaspard on the Meaning of Citizenship

Still image from "Patrick Gaspard Honored with the NAACP's Spingarn Medal"

While accepting an award from the NAACP, Open Society’s Patrick Gaspard urged the next generation of activists to renew the promise of citizenship and never give up the struggle for true equality and justice.

August 2, 2019

Multiracial Democracy

Post-Election Punditry Overlooks Asian American Gains

Aftab Pureval speaking at a podium

The pundits focused on a swing vote shift to the GOP in statewide races on the ballot November 2. But the election saw landmark strides toward a multiracial democracy at the local level, as Asian Americans made significant gains.

November 10, 2021 | Laleh Ispahani

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