I see there are reasons that cases go before SCOTUS.
In my limited legal opinion, the “persons” were defined in the first sentence.
No other definitions of “persons” regarding the amendment were forthcoming.
See you in DC.
8^)
5.56mm
Indeed. And this issue has a number of times.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Zadvydas v. Davis (2001) that "due process" of the 14th Amendment applies to all aliens in the United States whose presence maybe or is "unlawful, involuntary or transitory."
Three key Supreme Court decisions in 1886, 1896 and 1903 laid the 14th Amendment basis for the consistent ruling of the court that aliens, legal and illegal, have constitutional protection in criminal and certain civil affairs in the justice system.
In summary, the entire case of illegal aliens being covered by and protected by the Constitution has been settled law for 129 years and rests on one word: "person." It is the word "person" that connects the dots of "due process" and "equal protection" in the 14th Amendment to the U.S Constitution.
Again, not my opinion, but fact. I wish it were the opposite of what the SCOTUS has interpreted/ruled but I don't get a vote.