Democratic-led states and civil rights groups filed lawsuits on Tuesday to block former President Donald Trump’s move to end birthright citizenship. Trump’s executive order, signed after his Monday inauguration, denies citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither parent is a citizen or legal resident.
Twenty-two Democratic-led states, the District of Columbia, and San Francisco filed suits in federal courts in Boston and Seattle, arguing the order violates the Constitution’s 14th Amendment Citizenship Clause. The American Civil Liberties Union, immigrant advocates, and an expectant mother also filed lawsuits.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell stated Trump lacks authority to revoke constitutional rights, emphasizing that more than 150,000 children born annually could lose access to citizenship, federal programs, lawful employment, and voting rights.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin echoed these concerns, calling the lawsuits a stand for residents’ basic rights.
The cases reference the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which upheld citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents.
One plaintiff, identified as “O. Doe,” resides in Massachusetts under temporary protected status and is due to give birth in March. Temporary protected status aids individuals from countries facing crises and currently applies to over 1 million people.
Additional lawsuits challenge Trump’s actions, including an order weakening civil servant protections. The White House did not comment.
Key courts overseeing these cases, including the 1st and 9th Circuits, have historically influenced immigration policies, setting the stage for a major legal battle.
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