Melissa Stewart
@melissastewart.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Law
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law
Public International Law | Human Rights | Statelessness | Int’l Environmental Law
https://law.hawaii.edu/people/melissa-stewart/
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law
Public International Law | Human Rights | Statelessness | Int’l Environmental Law
https://law.hawaii.edu/people/melissa-stewart/
Pinned
Birthright Citizenship, Denaturalization, and the Specter of Statelessness
Birthright citizenship is a right that has been enjoyed by nearly every person born on American soil for over 150 years. For those that dream and hope for Ameri
ssrn.com
Very pleased to announce that after trying my luck with a very off-cycle submission, my piece "Birthright Citizenship, Denaturalization, and the Specter of Statelessness" is now forthcoming in the UCLA Law Review Discourse.
Comments and feedback welcome.
ssrn.com/abstract=525...
Comments and feedback welcome.
ssrn.com/abstract=525...
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Happy to share my review (that was well late, sorry) of @glexareen.bsky.social's book "Statehood as Political Community"
He may be a moral philosophy bro but his outcomes and ethics are sound in spite of that. The book is excellent and well worth your time
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
He may be a moral philosophy bro but his outcomes and ethics are sound in spite of that. The book is excellent and well worth your time
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Statehood as Political Community: International Law and the Emergence of New States by Alex Green [Cambridge University Press, 2024, ISBN: 978-10091-7-6309, 254pp, £95 (h/bk)] | International & Co...
Statehood as Political Community: International Law and the Emergence of New States by Alex Green [Cambridge University Press, 2024, ISBN: 978-10091-7-6309, 254pp, £95 (h/bk)]
www.cambridge.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Happy to share my review (that was well late, sorry) of @glexareen.bsky.social's book "Statehood as Political Community"
He may be a moral philosophy bro but his outcomes and ethics are sound in spite of that. The book is excellent and well worth your time
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
He may be a moral philosophy bro but his outcomes and ethics are sound in spite of that. The book is excellent and well worth your time
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
I read part of this book for my thesis research, and my first comment to Tamsin was, 'Chapter 3 is a banger'.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Happy to share my review (that was well late, sorry) of @glexareen.bsky.social's book "Statehood as Political Community"
He may be a moral philosophy bro but his outcomes and ethics are sound in spite of that. The book is excellent and well worth your time
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
He may be a moral philosophy bro but his outcomes and ethics are sound in spite of that. The book is excellent and well worth your time
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Statehood as Political Community: International Law and the Emergence of New States by Alex Green [Cambridge University Press, 2024, ISBN: 978-10091-7-6309, 254pp, £95 (h/bk)] | International & Co...
Statehood as Political Community: International Law and the Emergence of New States by Alex Green [Cambridge University Press, 2024, ISBN: 978-10091-7-6309, 254pp, £95 (h/bk)]
www.cambridge.org
December 15, 2025 at 5:24 AM
I read part of this book for my thesis research, and my first comment to Tamsin was, 'Chapter 3 is a banger'.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
People on here talking about going to see Kill Bill, the whole bloody affair...but where are my elder millennials / Gen Xers who are going out to see the 30th (!!) Anniversary edition of Sense and Sensibility? I'll be there for the popcorn and Kate Winslet whispering "Willoughby."
December 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
People on here talking about going to see Kill Bill, the whole bloody affair...but where are my elder millennials / Gen Xers who are going out to see the 30th (!!) Anniversary edition of Sense and Sensibility? I'll be there for the popcorn and Kate Winslet whispering "Willoughby."
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Birthright citizenship under the common law, a thread:
I have done this many times on social media, in print, and in media interviews, but not to be accused of taking others’ not seriously enough, by plainly stating the law and history of birthright citizenship, I’m taking the time here:
I have done this many times on social media, in print, and in media interviews, but not to be accused of taking others’ not seriously enough, by plainly stating the law and history of birthright citizenship, I’m taking the time here:
December 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Birthright citizenship under the common law, a thread:
I have done this many times on social media, in print, and in media interviews, but not to be accused of taking others’ not seriously enough, by plainly stating the law and history of birthright citizenship, I’m taking the time here:
I have done this many times on social media, in print, and in media interviews, but not to be accused of taking others’ not seriously enough, by plainly stating the law and history of birthright citizenship, I’m taking the time here:
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
You could write this. Or you could write: “That notion, which has been the rule in nearly every country in the Western Hemisphere for over a century, is grounded in the language of the 14th Amendment.”
All how you choose to frame it.
All how you choose to frame it.
December 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
You could write this. Or you could write: “That notion, which has been the rule in nearly every country in the Western Hemisphere for over a century, is grounded in the language of the 14th Amendment.”
All how you choose to frame it.
All how you choose to frame it.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
People might be surprised by who USCIS has said they will consider are here "temporarily," meaning their children are not entitled to birthright citizenship. This includes DACA recipients, people who have been here for decades under TPS, immigrants protected under CAT.
www.uscis.gov/sites/defaul...
www.uscis.gov/sites/defaul...
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-alerts/IP-2025-0001-USCIS_Implementation_Plan_of_Executive_Order_14160%20–%20Protecting_the_Meaning_and_Value_of_American_Citizenship.pdf
December 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
People might be surprised by who USCIS has said they will consider are here "temporarily," meaning their children are not entitled to birthright citizenship. This includes DACA recipients, people who have been here for decades under TPS, immigrants protected under CAT.
www.uscis.gov/sites/defaul...
www.uscis.gov/sites/defaul...
If SCOTUS sides with the gov, it will drastically change our conception of American citizenship and lead to children being rendered stateless.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
If SCOTUS sides with the gov, it will drastically change our conception of American citizenship and lead to children being rendered stateless.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Here we go.....
Here is the question presented. It's a relatively clean vehicle for the Supreme Court to finally decide whether it is lawful for the president to deny birthright citizenship to the children of immigrants. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
December 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Here we go.....
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
The entire debate over birthright citizenship is anti-constitutional because the purpose, intent, and text of the 14th Amendment were designed to foreclose any argument about who counts as an American citizen.
December 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The entire debate over birthright citizenship is anti-constitutional because the purpose, intent, and text of the 14th Amendment were designed to foreclose any argument about who counts as an American citizen.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
This is a great post that highlights the extent to which the Trump admin is distinguishing between "native-born" and naturalized citizens.
I talk about the potential that denaturalizing citizens could render them stateless in my work in progress article here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I talk about the potential that denaturalizing citizens could render them stateless in my work in progress article here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 4, 2025 at 3:32 AM
This is a great post that highlights the extent to which the Trump admin is distinguishing between "native-born" and naturalized citizens.
I talk about the potential that denaturalizing citizens could render them stateless in my work in progress article here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I talk about the potential that denaturalizing citizens could render them stateless in my work in progress article here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Lucky Minnesota!
I guess this means it's official!! I am beyond thrilled to be joining Minnesota Law as an associate professor next year.
Now taking recommendations for your favorite winter gear!
law.umn.edu/news/2025-12...
Now taking recommendations for your favorite winter gear!
law.umn.edu/news/2025-12...
December 2, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Lucky Minnesota!
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
According to today’s WSJ, over half of GDP growth is represented by dumping money into the Mauna Kea volcano. Stopping this may anger the volcano gods, so we must press on.
One explanation for economic populism in the US is the recurring cycle of bubbles and bailouts that happens without any democratic input
November 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
According to today’s WSJ, over half of GDP growth is represented by dumping money into the Mauna Kea volcano. Stopping this may anger the volcano gods, so we must press on.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
"WHO to lose nearly a quarter of its workforce – 2,000 jobs – due to US withdrawing funding" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
WHO to lose nearly a quarter of its workforce – 2,000 jobs – due to US withdrawing funding
Donald Trump’s administration withdrew from the World Health Organization in January, prompting the agency to scale back its work
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
"WHO to lose nearly a quarter of its workforce – 2,000 jobs – due to US withdrawing funding" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
I can hear this post read in Tamsin's voice. If you can't, I highly recommend Called to the Bar podcast, where she and @djag2.bsky.social set the record straight on piracy and all things international law w their co-hosts @ntinatzouvala.bsky.social @drnajimagi.bsky.social @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social
It's not fucking piracy! States can't commit piracy, and calling it piracy absolves the US of responsibility and says that the individuals who conducted the strikes were mutineers. It's an atrocity crime and deeply illegal but not fucking piracy. Not everything involving boats and violence is piracy
Washington Post edit board: There’s a name for attacks on civilian ships on the high seas: Piracy. That’s also an unfortunately plausible description of the Trump administration’s bombings of vessels around South America that it says are carrying drugs. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
October 29, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I can hear this post read in Tamsin's voice. If you can't, I highly recommend Called to the Bar podcast, where she and @djag2.bsky.social set the record straight on piracy and all things international law w their co-hosts @ntinatzouvala.bsky.social @drnajimagi.bsky.social @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
It's not fucking piracy! States can't commit piracy, and calling it piracy absolves the US of responsibility and says that the individuals who conducted the strikes were mutineers. It's an atrocity crime and deeply illegal but not fucking piracy. Not everything involving boats and violence is piracy
Washington Post edit board: There’s a name for attacks on civilian ships on the high seas: Piracy. That’s also an unfortunately plausible description of the Trump administration’s bombings of vessels around South America that it says are carrying drugs. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | The new pirates of the Caribbean
Attacks against alleged drug boats are lawless.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
It's not fucking piracy! States can't commit piracy, and calling it piracy absolves the US of responsibility and says that the individuals who conducted the strikes were mutineers. It's an atrocity crime and deeply illegal but not fucking piracy. Not everything involving boats and violence is piracy
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
#ICYMI: Among the citizens detained by immigration agents are nearly 20 children, including two with cancer.
Four children were held for weeks with their undocumented mother and without access to the family’s attorney until a congresswoman intervened.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
Four children were held for weeks with their undocumented mother and without access to the family’s attorney until a congresswoman intervened.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
#ICYMI: Among the citizens detained by immigration agents are nearly 20 children, including two with cancer.
Four children were held for weeks with their undocumented mother and without access to the family’s attorney until a congresswoman intervened.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
Four children were held for weeks with their undocumented mother and without access to the family’s attorney until a congresswoman intervened.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
I read one short article and I give myself an additional two books, three articles, and four chapters to read. Totally realistic work flow.
October 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I read one short article and I give myself an additional two books, three articles, and four chapters to read. Totally realistic work flow.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Eric Fripp @opiniojuris.bsky.social on deprivation of nationality in Kuwait #citizenshipdeprivation opiniojuris.org/2025/10/21/t...
The Resurgence of Large-scale Deprivation of Nationality: The Case of Kuwait
[Eric Fripp is a Barrister at 36 Public & Human Rights, part of the 36 Group, Gray’s Inn, London and Senior Visiting Fellow for the Refugee Law Initiative, School of Advanced Study, University …
opiniojuris.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Eric Fripp @opiniojuris.bsky.social on deprivation of nationality in Kuwait #citizenshipdeprivation opiniojuris.org/2025/10/21/t...
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
the president has destroyed the east wing of the white house without so much as a word of input from anyone else to build a royal ballroom paid for with bribes
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
the president has destroyed the east wing of the white house without so much as a word of input from anyone else to build a royal ballroom paid for with bribes
Truly epic career achievement. Well done @drnajimagi.bsky.social 👏👏👏
Thank you to @melissastewart.bsky.social for pointing out that one of my papers is in the Jessup basic materials this year I have now peaked and will be retiring
October 22, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Truly epic career achievement. Well done @drnajimagi.bsky.social 👏👏👏
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
The White House is asking people not to share pictures of the East Wing because it’s even worse today.
October 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The White House is asking people not to share pictures of the East Wing because it’s even worse today.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
BNP Paribas shares fell up to 10% after a US jury ruled the French bank aided Sudan’s government in committing genocide by violating American sanctions, raising fears of more legal claims aje.io/40amaz
BNP Paribas shares fall after US jury’s Sudan verdict
The French bank will pay more than $20m to three plaintiffs amid allegations of human rights abuses.
aje.io
October 21, 2025 at 2:02 AM
BNP Paribas shares fell up to 10% after a US jury ruled the French bank aided Sudan’s government in committing genocide by violating American sanctions, raising fears of more legal claims aje.io/40amaz