Citizenship forums planned across USVI as federal threats loom

A nonprofit group is bringing residents together across the U.S. Virgin Islands to discuss federal moves that threaten citizenship rights in the territory.

Right to Democracy will convene community conversations on each island this weekend. St. Thomas hosts the first gathering Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Windward Passage Hotel. Saturday afternoon, St. John residents can attend from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Gifft Hill School. The series wraps up Sunday afternoon on St. Croix, running from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Meeting Space at Computer Solutions VI in Five Corners Plaza, adjacent to the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center.

The timing reflects escalating federal developments. Vice President JD Vance said on Fox News that limiting birthright citizenship in U.S. territories would be "a great idea." A Congressional Freedom Caucus member subsequently introduced the End Birthright Citizenship for Territories Act, which would bar citizenship for anyone born in a U.S. territory starting January 1, 2027. President Donald Trump also signed an Executive Order in August targeting birthright citizenship in U.S. territories "where citizenship is not conferred by Federal statute."

Neil Weare, Co-Director of Right to Democracy, explained the group wants to understand community concerns and gather ideas for response. "According to the President and the recently introduced 'End Birthright Citizenship for Territories Act,' the Insular Cases give the federal government the power to unilaterally revoke citizenship in U.S. territories regardless what the people of these communities might think," Weare said.

Right to Democracy previously backed elected and judicial leaders from the territory in the Supreme Court case Trump v. Barbara, arguing against federal power to revoke citizenship. The amicus brief carried the names of V.I. Delegate Stacey Plaskett, Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, former Governor Kenneth Mapp, former Delegate Donna Christensen, and former Superior Court judges Adam Christian and Soraya Diase Coffelt.

After the Barbara ruling, Plaskett said the decision confirmed that constitutional birthright citizenship protections cannot be switched on and off arbitrarily. "This is important for Virgin Islanders, because the federal government continues to claim our citizenship is a legislative privilege rather than a constitutional right," she said.

People wishing to attend should register through EventBrite.com or contact [email protected]. Right to Democracy is also collecting signatures on a petition against federal citizenship threats and inviting residents to complete a survey at righttodemocracy.us.