An appeal has been filed against a US court's ruling that ordered the US government to grant citizenship to American Samoans.
The American Samoa Legislature Fono building in Fagatogo Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The US government, the American Samoan government and congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen asked the Court of Appeal in Denver to reverse the ruling.
The court in Utah last year ruled that the US constitution applied to American Samoans, and ordered they be given citizenship and voting rights.
But American Samoa's government said the constitutional birthright was being imposed agianst its will.
The government said it would remove significant-self government, threaten fa'a Samoa, social structures, land practices and the matai system.
US Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen. Photo: radewagen.house.gov