Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is releasing a new Netflix documentary titled "14th" that examines the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to those born in the U.S. The film will explore the amendment's contested status, particularly in light of President Donald Trump's legal challenges.
The documentary highlights ongoing debates surrounding citizenship and constitutional rights in the United States, particularly as they relate to political challenges and legal interpretations.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay announced Thursday that her new documentary, "14th," will be released on Netflix later this year. The film delves into the 14th Amendment, which established rights and citizenship for formerly enslaved people following the Civil War, and which has become a focal point of legal challenges by President Donald Trump.
This project marks DuVernay's return to nonfiction filmmaking, following her 2016 examination of the 13th Amendment, "13th." The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. Trump has been a vocal critic of birthright citizenship, and on his first day of a second term, he signed an executive order aimed at restricting it. The Supreme Court, however, struck down this order in a 6-3 decision.
DuVernay described the film as exploring "who gets counted" and questioning the current narrative of the country's development, stating, "This is not a film about the past tense of freedom." The documentary will feature insights from politicians, historians, and cultural figures.
Chief Justice John Roberts, in his written opinion for the court, affirmed that citizenship grants the right to participate in the political community, extending the promise of the Fourteenth Amendment to "every free-born person in this land." Following the ruling, Trump expressed his strong disagreement on Truth Social, calling the decision a "miscarriage of justice."