California Senate Bill SR32

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/26/25
• Refer: 3/26/25
• Refer: 4/2/25
• Refer: 4/9/25
• Passed: 7/10/25

Caption

Relative to birthright citizenship.

Summary

SR 32 is a Senate resolution expressing the California Senate’s opposition to President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order No. 14160, which sought to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States. The resolution states that birthright citizenship has been protected by the Fourteenth Amendment for more than 150 years and cites United States v. Wong Kim Ark as controlling precedent affirming citizenship for persons born in the United States, with limited exceptions. The resolution frames birthright citizenship as especially significant in California because of the state’s large immigrant population and the number of children with at least one immigrant parent. It argues that denying citizenship to children of certain immigrants would jeopardize access to public benefits and services, including CalWORKs, CalFresh, passports, Social Security cards, free lunch programs, health care, and federal student aid, and could create long-term harms such as statelessness, reduced educational and economic opportunity, and social exclusion. The resolution also ties the issue to California’s broader sanctuary policy framework and its commitment to due process and equal treatment regardless of immigration status.

Impact

SR 32 does not amend the California Government Code or create new regulatory requirements; instead, it is a nonbinding legislative resolution that declares the Senate’s position on federal immigration policy. Its practical effect is political and symbolic: it directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit the resolution to federal officials and California’s congressional delegation, and it formally places the Senate on record supporting birthright citizenship and opposing the executive order. The resolution’s references to state and federal benefits, immigration status, and sanctuary policy underscore the populations and public programs most affected by any change to birthright citizenship rules.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SR 32 was strongly supportive and unified. The resolution passed the Senate with no recorded opposition, first in committee on a 11-0 vote and then on third reading by a 27-0 vote. The bill text and the vote history indicate broad agreement among senators with the resolution’s constitutional and policy arguments in favor of birthright citizenship.

Contention

There was little visible contention within the California Senate process itself, as the measure advanced unanimously. The substantive controversy addressed by the resolution is the federal executive order and the broader debate over whether birthright citizenship should apply to children born to parents who are undocumented or temporarily present. Supporters of the resolution argue the order is unconstitutional and harmful to children, while the resolution’s framing suggests opponents of birthright citizenship view the policy as a way to restrict citizenship eligibility. The resolution also implicitly engages debates over immigration, sanctuary policies, public benefits, and the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment.