"Whatever his status under the immigration laws, an alien is surely a 'person' .... Aliens, even aliens whose presence in this country is unlawful, have long been recognized as 'persons' guaranteed due process of law by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments."
-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Plyler v. Doe (1982)Here is a brief summary of the more widely known amendments to the Constitution, known as the "Bill of Rights":
1st Amendment - freedom of speech
2nd Amendment - the right to bear arms
4th Amendment - the right to be protected from unlawful search and seizure
5th Amendment - provides a number of important protections for those accused of crimes, including requiring the use of an indictment in all trials for capital crimes; protection against "deprivation of life, liberty or property without due process of law"; and protection against the taking of private property of public use without just compensation
6th Amendment - the right to a speedy and public trial
7th Amendment- the right to a trial by jury
8th Amendment - prohibits excessive bail and "cruel and unusual punishment"
10th Amendment - gives the states powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited by them, like the right to tax state residents.
13th Amendment - prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude
14th Amendment - guarantees "equal protection under the law" and "due process under the law" - used to argue many civil rights cases
15th Amendment - the right to vote shall not be abridged based on account of "race, creed or previous condition of servitude"
17th Amendment - sets Senators' terms to six years and their number to two per state
19th Amendment - gives women the right to vote
22nd Amendment - limits the term of the president to two terms (each term is 4 years)
26th Amendment - gives the right to vote to those 18 years old and older
"The Bill of Rights does not grant foreigners the right to enter the United States, but once here, immigrants are entitled to certain broad constitutional protections. Due Process -- the right to be treated fairly, whether in a deportation hearing or a criminal court proceeding -- applies to every person within U.S. borders. And Equal Protection prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin. An alien's rights to free speech and religious freedom are protected under the First Amendment. The Refugee Act of 1980 gives certain aliens the right to political asylum in the U.S."
-- from The American Civil Liberties Union website
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