Advocates for immigrant rights in the United States have filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive order aimed at denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. The lawsuit was brought forward by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU branches from New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, along with the Asian Law Caucus, among others. The case was filed on behalf of communities, including Caribbean immigrants, whose children could lose their citizenship if the order stands.
The lawsuit challenges the executive order, claiming that denying birthright citizenship is a violation of the U.S. Constitution and goes against the fundamental principles on which the nation was built. ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero spoke out against the measure, calling it “unconstitutional” and “a reckless repudiation of American values.” He further emphasized that birthright citizenship is a key element of what makes the U.S. unique, ensuring that all children born on U.S. soil are guaranteed full rights, regardless of their parents’ immigration status or background.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution has long guaranteed that anyone born in the country is a U.S. citizen, with only a few narrow exceptions. This principle was first established after the Civil War and has been integral to the nation’s identity ever since, most notably reaffirmed in the 1898 U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which upheld the citizenship rights of children born to immigrant parents.
Cody Wofsy, Deputy Director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, underscored that birthright citizenship is a “cornerstone of American democracy” and that any attempt to revoke this right is not only illegal but also deeply cruel. “The right to citizenship is central to our country’s values,” Wofsy stated, “and this executive order is an affront to fairness and equality.”
In support of the lawsuit, Theo Oshiro, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, expressed concern over the long-term impacts of such a policy. “This would create a permanent underclass, stigmatizing children simply for being born in the U.S.,” Oshiro said, adding that it would send a harmful message of exclusion and inequality.
New York Attorney General Letitia James also joined the legal battle, stating that she, along with a coalition of 18 states, is filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts to block the executive order. James highlighted the importance of birthright citizenship as a fundamental right rooted in justice and equality, noting that the Constitution should not be altered through executive actions.
The legal challenge continues to unfold, with advocates firm in their belief that this executive order undermines the very essence of American democracy and the values of equality and inclusion that the country strives to uphold. The stakes are high, as the outcome of this case could shape the future of citizenship in the United States for generations to come.
