Team,

Some people may not be aware, but if you are born in an American territory, like the Virgin Islands, the Supreme Court ruled long ago in what are called Insular Cases, that those born in U.S. territories are U.S. citizens so long as Congress allows and it keeps those living in territories from full rights as Americans.

Folks, this line of thought is blatantly wrong. The Insular Cases represent a racist exclusion of people of color in our democratic process, dehumanizes tax-paying Americans, and relegates all people in American territories to second-class status.

Since being elected, my team and I have worked with a politically and ideologically diverse group of people in calling on the Supreme Court to overrule the Insular Cases. And recently, with Justice Gorsuch and Justice Sotomayor (two politically ideological opposites) calling on the cases to be overruled, we have seen momentum starting to build up around this issue.

So last month, building upon this momentum, with 8 amicus briefs calling on the Supreme Court to take up a case that could potentially overrule the Insular Cases, I led the brief filed by former and present elected officials.

But here’s the important part, friends, if the Supreme Court fails to act, it is up to Congress to decide on this issue. If inclusion of all Americans in the democratic process is going to become a reality, then we need Democrats in charge come January 2023, not far-right Republicans. Will you contribute today and defend the majority so we can finally end this exclusionary, discriminatory practice?

When I was elected to Congress, I made a commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands to never stop fighting for their constitutional rights.

It is way past time the Supreme Court and Congress condemns the Insular Cases as inconsistent with the Constitution and who we are as a nation.

In 2022, people living in the U.S. Virgin Islands and other territories should not be excluded from American democracy. There is no justification whatsoever for the Insular Cases, there truly never was. And if the Supreme Court does not act, then Congress needs to step up. If you are able to, please join me in defending the majority and contribute toward ending second-class status of Virgin Islanders.

Rep. Stacey Plaskett