The Story of Wong Kim Ark

Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents and is central to a landmark Supreme Court case that shaped U.S. immigration law. His story began when he was denied re-entry into the U.S. after visiting family in China, which led to a legal battle over the interpretation of the 14th Amendment concerning birthright citizenship. Despite his citizenship claim, U.S. customs argued that he was not subject to American jurisdiction due to his parents' origins, setting the stage for a watershed Supreme Court case that would have lasting implications for citizenship in the U.S. The historical context includes the existence of Chinatowns in America, formed out of necessity due to rampant anti-Chinese sentiment that had put Chinese immigrants in dire positions, often culminating in violence and discriminatory legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act.