22 states sue to block Trump executive order ending birthright citizenship

0
67db8140-3b6f-46e4-b502-98bdf2b6968e_16x9_1200x676

U.S. President Donald Trump signs documents as he issues executive orders and pardons for January 6 defendants in the Oval Office at the White House on Inauguration Day in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. (Reuters)

Attorneys general from 22 states filed lawsuits Tuesday to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, a long-standing practice enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The order, issued Monday, questions whether U.S.-born children of noncitizens are automatically entitled to citizenship, sparking a legal battle that could redefine immigration policy.

“The president cannot, with a stroke of a pen, write the 14th Amendment out of existence, period,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin. Democratic attorneys general and immigrant rights advocates argue the order contradicts settled constitutional law.

Trump’s executive order asserts that children born to noncitizens or temporary visitors are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S., excluding them from automatic citizenship. It directs federal agencies to bar recognition of such citizenship claims, effective February 19.

Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argue the move undermines fundamental rights.

“The 14th Amendment says what it means, and it means what it says — if you are born on American soil, you are an American. Period,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.

The White House defended the order, calling the lawsuits “an extension of the Left’s resistance.”

Historically, the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, has been interpreted to guarantee citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. This interpretation was affirmed in the 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

States, cities, and immigrant rights groups, including San Francisco and the District of Columbia, have joined forces to halt the order, with lawsuits highlighting the potential harm to U.S.-born children and their families.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *