They can do this to a member of Congress? What does that mean for the rest of us? When I heard that federal agents raided Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's home and that the Trump administration was looking at whether it could strip her citizenship and deport her, I felt that in my bones. I came to this country as a child, became a naturalized American citizen, took an oath to defend the Constitution, and went on to serve eight years in the California Legislature. I believe in that Constitution, and I believe no American should have to fear losing citizenship for speaking out against a president.

This is bigger than one person and bigger than one headline. If naturalized citizens can be treated like our citizenship is conditional, then millions of people are being told we are somehow less American, less protected, and more disposable. That is dangerous for immigrants, for families, for dissent, and for the basic idea that constitutional rights belong to all of us. Naturalized citizens are not second class Americans.

Congress must act now to pass clear federal protections against politically motivated attempts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans. Lawmakers must make it unmistakable that citizenship cannot be threatened as punishment for speech, criticism, or political disagreement. They also need real oversight of any federal effort to investigate or target citizens in ways that undermine equal protection and constitutional rights. We cannot leave this open to abuse by whoever holds power.

I am asking you to sign because there is too much at stake to look away. The Constitution belongs to all of us, not just a few, and it must protect every one of us, especially when we disagree with those in power. Add your name if you believe citizenship should never depend on politics, birthplace, or whether those in office like what we have to say.