Which of the following correctly summarizes why noncitizens are protected by the Bill of Rights?
Noncitizens are considered citizens under the language of the Fourteenth Amendment and have the same rights as citizens.
Noncitizens may have green cards that grant them the same constitutional rights as citizens.
Noncitizens are considered "people" within the language of the Constitution and are therefore entitled to the same constitutional protections as citizens.
Noncitizens may have permanent residency that grants them the same constitutional rights as citizens.
Noncitizens are considered "people" within the language of the Constitution and are therefore entitled to the same constitutional protections as citizens.
The correct answer is:
Noncitizens are considered "people" within the language of the Constitution and are therefore entitled to the same constitutional protections as citizens.
The correct summary is:
Noncitizens are considered "people" within the language of the Constitution and are therefore entitled to the same constitutional protections as citizens.
To arrive at this conclusion, we need to understand the principles stated in the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, outlines various fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals possess. While it explicitly refers to "the people," it does not explicitly differentiate between citizens and noncitizens.
The language used in the Constitution is broadly inclusive, and the term "people" refers to all individuals, regardless of their citizenship status. This interpretation has been upheld by the Supreme Court in numerous cases as well. Therefore, noncitizens, like citizens, are entitled to the protections outlined in the Bill of Rights.
The other options mentioned, such as being considered citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment, having green cards, or having permanent residency, can be relevant factors in determining certain rights, but they are not the primary basis for noncitizens being protected by the Bill of Rights. The fundamental principle is that the constitutional protections extend to all individuals within the country's jurisdiction, regardless of citizenship status.