About This Lesson
The question of who is protected by the United States Constitution has been debated throughout our nation's history. Recent debates about immigration have brought this question to the forefront of public discourse. Some supporters of the current administration have argued that due process and constitutional protections do not fully apply to individuals in the United States without citizenship or legal immigration status. Others argue that the Constitution's protections extend to all persons within U.S. borders, regardless of their immigration status.
This lesson does not advocate for any particular political position. Instead, it presents key Supreme Court cases, constitutional principles, and competing perspectives to help students develop their own informed understanding of this complex issue. By examining historical and contemporary legal precedents, students will explore a fundamental question in American civic life: To what extent are constitutional protections guaranteed to all people within the United States?
