Hoda Muthana, often referred to in media reports as the “ISIS bride” due to her marriage to a member of the Islamic State group, is continuing her legal effort to return to the United States with her young son.
Muthana, originally from Alabama, left the U.S. in 2014 and traveled to Syria, where she joined the extremist group. She is currently residing in a refugee camp in northern Syria.
After leaving the U.S., Muthana reportedly used social media to express support for the Islamic State and to encourage violence.
The U.S. government maintains that Muthana is not a U.S. citizen. Officials cite the fact that her father was serving as a Yemeni diplomat when she was born.
Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, individuals born in the United States to foreign diplomats are typically not granted citizenship due to diplomatic immunity.
Muthana’s legal team has contested this position, arguing that her father’s diplomatic status had ended before her birth in New Jersey. They claim that she was therefore eligible for U.S. citizenship at the time of her birth.
In 2019, the Trump administration declared that Muthana was not a U.S. citizen and denied her request to return.
Complicating the matter is the status of Muthana’s son, who was born in Syria. Although he may have a claim to U.S. citizenship through his mother, his legal status has also come under review.
