“March 28, 1898 United States v. Kim Wong Ark—
This landmark Supreme Court
case extended the protections of the 14th Amendment to all who were born in the U.S. regardless of the Chinese Exclusion Act. King Wong Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese parents, attempted to return to the United States from a visit to China and was denied entry based on his lack of citizenship. The ruling of the court case was a significant victory for Chinese Americans and allowed this marginalized community to expand and flourish.” — From Belonging, Wing Luke Museum
Following the Geary Act– this check on the U.S. Constitution should have been a bigger surprise to the American people. Apparently it was a surprise– even to one of his descendants.
Here’s a well researched and enlightening article from the Washington Post