Walking through downtown Fremont often makes me hungry. Especially around lunchtime, layers of earthy, mouthwatering scents waft from the city’s many Afghan, South and East Asian restaurants. They mingle with conversations in more than 98 languages spoken in Fremont alone.
In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau reports over 63% of Fremont residents are Asian, while the City of Fremont affirms that nearly half of residents were born outside the United States. Our neighboring cities tell similar stories: roughly 49% of Union City’s residents and 44% of Newark’s residents are foreign-born.
Last week, the Supreme Court decided a case that struck close to home. On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship to virtually all children born in the United States, including those born to undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders. The decision leaves in place more than a century of precedent, dating back to the 1898 United States v. Wong Kim Ark case, which has California roots in San Francisco.
Whatever anyone thinks about immigration policy, citizenship provides stability—not only for individuals but for communities. In this week’s immigration column, Barbara Wong-Wilson reminds readers that immigration law is often complicated even when statutes don’t change. She also highlights how policy memos can create uncertainty for families pursuing legal pathways.
In a separate story, Weeklys reporting intern Kylee Wiens shows immigrants studying nights and weekends for a more difficult citizenship exam. Instructor Kenneth Ryan notes that “Trump’s a great recruiter for citizenship class,” because people want to know what they can do to protect themselves and their families. “I have a kid here and I have my husband here,” said one anonymous student. “I want to stay here. I have to do the best I can to stay legally or more secure.”
The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship for virtually anyone born in the United States. But in the greater Tri-Cities, the paths that bring people here are as varied as the cuisines lining our streets. Together, they form the diverse community we’re lucky to call home.
