Prologue
Prologue
The United States Court of Appeals has ruled that Concord’s controversial interstate border control practices are unconstitutional. The governor is speaking right now, let’s watch.
“ … we call on the Federal Government to stop its program of harassment of our hard-working men and women at the borders. We must protect our State’s sovereign rights and our citizens. Therefore, we will be launching an appeal to the Supreme Court against this decision. In the meantime, we will continue to enforce the State Law.”
Well, fighting words there. Let’s go back to today’s ruling. There it is on the screen … to watch Judge Groden deliver the judgment, just say *Link2* while synced.
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Robinson et al v. State of Concord
[July 9th, 2059]
In 2057, the State of Concord enacted a statute limiting the entry of out-of-state residents into Concord. The scheme was justified on the basis that the State of Concord was unable to cope with the “unrelenting flood of climate refugees” from other coastal states, which “overloaded the financial, cultural, and social capacity of the State.”
The question presented by this case is whether the 2057 statute was constitutional when it was enacted.
The Court concludes that citizens of the United States, whether rich or poor, have the right to choose to be citizens “of the State wherein they reside.” U.S. Const., Amdt. 14, § 1. The States do not have any right to select their citizens.
The Fourteenth Amendment, like the Constitution itself, was “framed upon the theory that the peoples of the several states must sink or swim together, and that in the long run, prosperity and salvation are in union and not division.” Baldwin v. G. A. F. Seelig, Inc., 294 U.S. 511, 523 (1935).
The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.
And now to our commentators Suzy Ashdod, chair of the Constitutional League, and Randolph Vann, head of the Concord City Blue Caps Movement. Welcome to both of you. Suzy, let’s start with you. Are you surprised by this ruling and what does it mean?
Suzy: It means we are all Americans, like the Constitution says. Look, a million people have already left Florida. There are millions more whose homes are unlivable along the coast. We should all—
Randolph (interjecting): You got one part right. There’s millions of refugees and no room in our state—
Suzy: Let me finish.
Randolph (shouting): No, it’s too easy for you. I don’t see you giving up your fancy house for the coasties. Who’s gonna pay? You expect us young people to pay, don’t you? Well, we didn’t create this problem.
