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Keywords

lawsuitplaintiffdefendantstatutemotionsummary judgmentcitizenshipnaturalizationmotion for summary judgment
lawsuitplaintiffdefendantstatutemotionsummary judgmentcitizenshipnaturalizationmotion for summary judgment

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Lebrun v. Thornburgh

Facts

The plaintiff was born in France in 1945 to an American soldier and a French citizen. Her father acknowledged paternity but did not legally legitimize her until she was 35 years old. Consequently, her applications for citizenship and a passport were denied based on her failure to meet the age and residency requirements set forth in the relevant statutes. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against various government officials seeking citizenship and a declaration that the statutes were unconstitutional.

The plaintiff was born in France in 1945 to an American soldier and a French citizen. Her father acknowledged paternity but did not legally legitimize her until she was 35 years old. Consequently, her applications for citizenship and a passport were denied based on her failure to meet the age and residency requirements set forth in the relevant statutes. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against various government officials seeking citizenship and a declaration that the statutes were unconstitutional.

Issue

Did 8 U.S.C.S. 1401 and 1409 violate the plaintiff's equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment?

Did 8 U.S.C.S. 1401 and 1409 violate the plaintiff's equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment?

Rule

The court applied the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires that laws discriminating against illegitimate children be subjected to close scrutiny.

The court applied the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires that laws discriminating against illegitimate children be subjected to close scrutiny.

Analysis

The court found that the statutes in question discriminated against illegitimate children by making their citizenship contingent upon the actions of their fathers, which was deemed unreasonable and arbitrary. The court noted that the law placed undue power in the hands of the male parent, penalizing children for circumstances beyond their control.

The court found that the statutes in question discriminated against illegitimate children by making their citizenship contingent upon the actions of their fathers, which was deemed unreasonable and arbitrary. The court noted that the law placed undue power in the hands of the male parent, penalizing children for circumstances beyond their control.

Conclusion

The court denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment and ruled that the statutes were unconstitutional as applied to the plaintiff, remanding the case to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The court denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment and ruled that the statutes were unconstitutional as applied to the plaintiff, remanding the case to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Who won?

The plaintiff prevailed in the case because the court found that the statutes violated her equal protection rights, thus allowing her claim for citizenship to proceed.

The plaintiff prevailed in the case because the court found that the statutes violated her equal protection rights, thus allowing her claim for citizenship to proceed.

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