Ayesha Roscoe

In part one of their episode, ThruLine lays out how in the 1800s, thousands of Chinese laborers immigrated to the U.S. to work in factories and build America's railroads. But when an economic downturn hit, politicians turned against the Chinese, claiming they were taking low-wage jobs because they were willing to work under slave-like conditions. There were mob attacks and mass lynchings.

And in 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. That prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country. Under these conditions, Wong Kim Ark and his parents went back to China. But a few years later, he returned to the U.S. to work. He'd make occasional visits back to China to see his family. In 1895, he returned back to San Francisco after one of those visits.

And in 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. That prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country. Under these conditions, Wong Kim Ark and his parents went back to China. But a few years later, he returned to the U.S. to work. He'd make occasional visits back to China to see his family. In 1895, he returned back to San Francisco after one of those visits.

And in 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. That prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country. Under these conditions, Wong Kim Ark and his parents went back to China. But a few years later, he returned to the U.S. to work. He'd make occasional visits back to China to see his family. In 1895, he returned back to San Francisco after one of those visits.

But officials refused to let him leave the steamship. The U.S. government was looking for a test case to expand the Chinese Exclusion Act. And he was it. After the break, ThruLine's run to Abdel Fattah and Ramteen Arablui and part two of their story, the test case.

But officials refused to let him leave the steamship. The U.S. government was looking for a test case to expand the Chinese Exclusion Act. And he was it. After the break, ThruLine's run to Abdel Fattah and Ramteen Arablui and part two of their story, the test case.

But officials refused to let him leave the steamship. The U.S. government was looking for a test case to expand the Chinese Exclusion Act. And he was it. After the break, ThruLine's run to Abdel Fattah and Ramteen Arablui and part two of their story, the test case.

You're listening to The Sunday Story. Here are my colleagues Ramteen Ereblui and Rond Abdel-Fattah from ThruLine with an excerpt from their episode on birthright citizenship. Here's Rond.

You're listening to The Sunday Story. Here are my colleagues Ramteen Ereblui and Rond Abdel-Fattah from ThruLine with an excerpt from their episode on birthright citizenship. Here's Rond.

You're listening to The Sunday Story. Here are my colleagues Ramteen Ereblui and Rond Abdel-Fattah from ThruLine with an excerpt from their episode on birthright citizenship. Here's Rond.

Welcome back to The Sunday Story, Rond and Rond.

Welcome back to The Sunday Story, Rond and Rond.

Welcome back to The Sunday Story, Rond and Rond.

Team, continue their episode of NPR's Throughline Podcast.

Team, continue their episode of NPR's Throughline Podcast.

Team, continue their episode of NPR's Throughline Podcast.

That story was brought to you by Ramteem Erablui, Rand Abdel-Fattah, and the rest of my colleagues at ThruLine. You can hear the full episode on NPR's ThruLine wherever you listen to podcasts. We also put a link to the episode in the show notes. As for Wong Kim Ark, he continued to live his life between the United States and China, where he had kids and a wife.

That story was brought to you by Ramteem Erablui, Rand Abdel-Fattah, and the rest of my colleagues at ThruLine. You can hear the full episode on NPR's ThruLine wherever you listen to podcasts. We also put a link to the episode in the show notes. As for Wong Kim Ark, he continued to live his life between the United States and China, where he had kids and a wife.

That story was brought to you by Ramteem Erablui, Rand Abdel-Fattah, and the rest of my colleagues at ThruLine. You can hear the full episode on NPR's ThruLine wherever you listen to podcasts. We also put a link to the episode in the show notes. As for Wong Kim Ark, he continued to live his life between the United States and China, where he had kids and a wife.

He was even able to bring some of his kids to live in the U.S., Though Wong Kim Ark's fight for recognition didn't make his own life much easier, it did clear a path for his own family and the descendants of millions of others whose rights are, for now, secured by soil and not by their skin color or ethnicity. He went to visit China one last time in 1931 when he was in his 60s.