Wong Kim Ark

Wong Kim Ark was a pivotal figure in U.S. immigration and citizenship law in the late 19th century. Born in America to Chinese parents, he traveled to China but was denied re-entry to the U.S. because of his Chinese heritage. In 1898, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, affirming that children born in the U.S. are citizens, regardless of their parents' nationality. This ruling established the legal principle of "jus soli," or right of the soil, solidifying the idea that birth in the country grants citizenship, a key aspect of American identity and immigration law.