Washington: A coalition of Democratic-leaning states filed legal challenges on Tuesday to block Donald Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship in the United States.
The lawsuits, filed by 22 states including California and New York, were initiated just a day after Trump assumed office and issued a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping U.S. immigration policies.
Among the most controversial measures was an order seeking to eliminate automatic citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil—a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
If enforced, the order would bar the federal government from issuing passports, citizenship certificates, or other official documents to children born to mothers in the country illegally or temporarily, unless their father is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
California Attorney General Criticizes Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order
“The President’s executive order attempting to rescind birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and, quite frankly, un-American,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as he announced a lawsuit challenging the measure.
“We are asking the court to immediately block this order from taking effect and to protect the rights of American-born children impacted by this order while litigation proceeds. The President has overstepped his authority by a mile, and we will hold him accountable.”
The California-led lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, was followed later Tuesday by a similar case in Washington state. Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups filed a related suit in New Hampshire.
The 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War to safeguard the rights of former slaves and their descendants, guarantees citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
Trump’s order, if upheld, would take effect 30 days after being signed. Acknowledging potential legal challenges, Trump remarked, “I think we have good grounds, but you could be right. I mean, we’ll find out.”
The president also erroneously claimed that the United States is the only country in the world offering birthright citizenship. In reality, dozens of nations, including Canada and Mexico, also grant this right.
