MOCA TALKS with Professor Thomas Lee: Wong Kim Ark and the Principle of Birthright Citizenship
September 17, 2025, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
$10 General Admission | Free for MOCA Members
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) cordially invites you to a special conversation featuring Thomas Lee, Leitner Family Professor of International Law and Co-Director of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School.
In this timely discussion, Professor Lee will explore the landmark Supreme Court case of Wong Kim Ark and the principle of birthright citizenship. The presentation will specifically address the aftermath of this pivotal ruling, highlighting the experiences of Wong Kim Ark’s descendants and other Chinese immigrants who sought entry into the United States by asserting U.S. citizenship during the era of the Exclusion Acts. Professor Lee will offer insights into how these significant legal precedents continue to influence American identity, civil rights, and immigration policy today.
MOCA thanks Barclay Damon LLP, Distinguished Sponsor for this presentation of MOCA TALKS.
About Professor Thomas Lee
Thomas Lee is the Leitner Family Professor of International Law and Co-Director of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School. He has written many articles about U.S. constitutional law, international law, and legal history. Before joining the academy, Lee clerked for Chief Judge Michael Boudin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and Justice David Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court and served as an active-duty U.S. naval cryptology officer. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Lee is an active litigator with Hughes Hubbard & Reed and has served as Special Counsel to the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Defense.
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