Takao Ozawa v. United States

260 U.S. 178 (1922)

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Takao Ozawa v. United States

United States Supreme Court
260 U.S. 178 (1922)

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Facts

Takao Ozawa (plaintiff) was a Japanese man who petitioned to become a United States citizen after he had lived in America for 20 years. Ozawa was born in Japan. Both Ozawa and his children attended schools in America. Ozawa’s family worshipped in American churches and spoke English while at home. In terms of fitness for citizenship, these attributes made Ozawa suitable for naturalization. However, when Ozawa applied for citizenship in a federal district court, the United States (defendant) denied Ozawa’s petition. The court explained that Ozawa did not qualify for citizenship under the naturalization laws because Ozawa was Japanese by ethnicity and had been born in Japan. Ozawa appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Before ruling on the case, that court certified two questions to the United States Supreme Court. The first related to whether one naturalization statute limited another. The second addressed whether a Japanese person may be eligible for United States citizenship.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Sutherland, J.)

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