
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land and it affords its citizens many protections. But what about undocumented immigrants? While the Constitution doesn't permit foreigners to enter the US without going through the proper channels, it does protect their human rights once they're in the country. The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is protected by the US Constitution? | All people living in the US, regardless of immigration status |
| What does the US Constitution protect? | Basic human rights |
| Who is considered a citizen? | Natural-born citizens and naturalized immigrants |
| Does the US Constitution exclude undocumented individuals? | No, but undocumented immigrants are not specifically mentioned |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution protects all people living in the US, regardless of immigration status
- The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants
- The US Constitution does not specifically mention undocumented immigrants
- The US Supreme Court has upheld that certain constitutional rights extend to everyone living within the US, not just natural-born citizens or legalised immigrants
- The US Constitution was drafted when immigration status was not a point of contention

The US Constitution protects all people living in the US, regardless of immigration status
The Constitution is the name of the document that contains the fundamental laws governing the United States of America. It has been considered "the supreme law of the land" since 1789. When it was drafted, immigration status was not a point of contention, as it is now. The framers of the Constitution did not have the "legal status" of those living in the United States in mind; the document was ratified to protect the people that lived within the borders of this country.
Most constitutional provisions apply based on personhood, not citizenship. In other words, if an individual is physically present in the US, they are entitled to the protections granted by the Constitution. For hundreds of years, the US Supreme Court has upheld that certain constitutional rights extend to everyone living within the US, not just natural-born citizens or legalised immigrants.
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The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants
While undocumented immigrants are not specifically mentioned in the US Constitution, the document does protect their human rights. The Constitution is considered "the supreme law of the land" and it extends basic human rights to its citizens. However, the framers of the Constitution did not have the "legal status" of those living in the United States in mind; in fact, the document was ratified to protect the people that lived within the borders of the country.
The Constitution protects all people living in the United States, regardless of immigration status. Most constitutional provisions apply based on personhood, not citizenship. This means that if an individual is physically present in the US, they are entitled to the protections granted by the Constitution.
Undocumented immigrants are therefore protected by the principles of the Constitution. Being an undocumented immigrant in the United States does not mean that a person has no rights. The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants.
Due process is one of the most important rights that undocumented immigrants have in the United States. Due process is the legal principle that ensures that everyone is given a fair and impartial hearing before the government takes away their life, liberty, or property.
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The US Constitution does not specifically mention undocumented immigrants
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and it extends basic human rights to its citizens. However, the framers of the Constitution did not have the "legal status" of those living in the United States in mind when it was drafted. Instead, the document was ratified to protect the people that lived within the borders of the country.
Immigration law experts argue that most constitutional provisions apply based on personhood, not citizenship. Therefore, if an individual is physically present in the US, they are entitled to the protections granted by the Constitution. This includes undocumented immigrants, who are often discriminated against and mistreated due to their lack of legal recognition by the US government.
While the Constitution does not permit foreigners to enter the US without going through the proper channels, it does protect their human rights once they are in the country. This means that undocumented immigrants have certain rights and protections, even if they are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.
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The US Supreme Court has upheld that certain constitutional rights extend to everyone living within the US, not just natural-born citizens or legalised immigrants
For hundreds of years, the US Supreme Court has upheld that certain constitutional rights extend to everyone living within the US, not just natural-born citizens or legalised immigrants. This is because the US Constitution was drafted to protect the people that lived within the borders of the country, regardless of their immigration status.
The Constitution is the document that contains the fundamental laws governing the United States of America. It has been considered "the supreme law of the land" since 1789 and extends basic human rights to its citizens. However, the framers of the Constitution did not have the "legal status" of those living in the US in mind.
The Constitution protects all people living in the US, regardless of immigration status. Most constitutional provisions apply based on personhood, not citizenship. This means that if an individual is physically present in the US, they are entitled to the protections granted by the Constitution.
Undocumented immigrants are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, but they are still protected by its principles. Being an undocumented immigrant in the US does not mean that they have no rights. The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants.
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The US Constitution was drafted when immigration status was not a point of contention
While the Constitution doesn't permit foreigners to enter the US without going through the proper channels, it does protect their human rights once they're here. The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants. The Constitution protects all people living in the United States, regardless of immigration status. Most constitutional provisions apply based on personhood, not citizenship. In other words, if an individual is physically present in the US, they are entitled to the protections granted by the Constitution.
Undocumented immigrants are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, but they are still protected by its principles. Being an undocumented immigrant in the United States does not mean that a person has no rights. Due process is often at the forefront of debates surrounding immigration law. Due process is the legal principle that ensures that everyone is given a fair and impartial hearing before the government takes away their life, liberty, or property.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the US Constitution protects all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.
No, the US Constitution does not only protect citizens. When it was drafted, immigration status was not a point of contention. Most constitutional provisions apply based on personhood, not citizenship.
The US Constitution extends basic human rights to its citizens. The US government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of everyone within its borders, including undocumented immigrants.
Undocumented immigrants have many rights in the US, including the right to due process, which ensures that everyone is given a fair and impartial hearing before the government takes away their life, liberty, or property.
Yes, undocumented immigrants often face discrimination and mistreatment since they are not legally recognised by the US government.

























