Ayesha Roscoe

After Trump issued his order, 22 states quickly filed lawsuits. And then federal courts temporarily blocked the order, which means that now the issue will move slowly through the legal system. At the heart of this fight is a question that's centuries old. Who is truly American and who gets to decide?

Recently, my colleagues at NPR's History podcast, Throughline, revisited the story behind the 14th Amendment and how it came to be. The story focuses on one man, Wong Kim Ark. He was born in 1873 in San Francisco to Chinese parents at a time that the U.S. was turning against Chinese immigrants.

Recently, my colleagues at NPR's History podcast, Throughline, revisited the story behind the 14th Amendment and how it came to be. The story focuses on one man, Wong Kim Ark. He was born in 1873 in San Francisco to Chinese parents at a time that the U.S. was turning against Chinese immigrants.

Recently, my colleagues at NPR's History podcast, Throughline, revisited the story behind the 14th Amendment and how it came to be. The story focuses on one man, Wong Kim Ark. He was born in 1873 in San Francisco to Chinese parents at a time that the U.S. was turning against Chinese immigrants.

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.

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.

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.