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United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind

261 U.S. 204 (1923)

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United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind

United States Supreme Court
261 U.S. 204 (1923)

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Facts

Bhagat Singh Thind (defendant) was born in Punjab, one of India’s northernmost areas. Thind was a member of a high social caste that some scientists classified as part of the Caucasian or Aryan race. Based on this classification, Thind applied for United States citizenship. A district court ruled that a Hindu born in India was eligible for citizenship. The United States (plaintiff) appealed the decision to a circuit court. Before rendering a decision, the circuit court certified two questions to the United States Supreme Court. The first question was whether a Hindu person of a high social caste born in India was a white person under the naturalization statute. The second question was whether Hindus who entered the country lawfully before the passage of the naturalization statute in 1917 were eligible for citizenship.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Sutherland, J.)

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