18 States Sue Trump Over Bid to End Birthright Citizenship, Citing 14th Amendment Violation

A coalition of 18 state attorneys basic has filed a federal lawsuit towards Trump, difficult his try to finish birthright citizenship by an government order. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a Massachusetts federal courtroom, argues that the coverage violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Structure, which ensures citizenship to all youngsters born on American soil.

The authorized problem comes simply someday after Trump signed the chief order, a controversial transfer that has sparked widespread backlash and will result in the primary main Supreme Courtroom check of his second-term agenda. The lawsuit seeks to dam the implementation of the coverage earlier than it takes impact, citing each constitutional protections and established authorized precedent.

Birthright citizenship is a precept enshrined within the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 following the Civil Warfare. The modification states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”

The idea predates the modification, with Congress passing a federal regulation in 1866 to ascertain citizenship rights for kids born on U.S. soil. Over the previous 157 years, the Supreme Courtroom has twice upheld birthright citizenship, making it one of many foundational components of U.S. regulation and society.

The lawsuit, co-led by New Jersey Lawyer Normal Matthew Platkin, argues that Trump’s government order is an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority.

“Despite a President’s broad powers to set immigration policy, however, the Citizenship Stripping Order falls far outside the legal bounds of the President’s authority,” the lawsuit states.

In an interview with CNN, Platkin stated, “When it comes to birthright citizenship – something that’s been part of the fabric of this nation for centuries, that’s been in the Constitution for 157 years since the Civil War, that’s been upheld by the Supreme Court twice – the president cannot, with a stroke of a pen, rewrite the Constitution and upend the rule of law.”

The states, joined by San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have additionally filed for a preliminary injunction to dam the coverage earlier than it may be carried out.

Authorized specialists be aware that Trump’s government order straight conflicts with each the 14th Amendment and current federal regulation. “The Supreme Court has been clear on this issue,” stated a constitutional scholar. “Children born on U.S. soil are citizens—there’s no legal gray area here.”

Trump’s government order to finish birthright citizenship was signed simply hours after he was sworn in for his second time period. The coverage has been a long-standing objective for Trump, who floated the thought throughout his first time period however confronted important authorized and political pushback.

Critics argue that the order represents an assault on a core American worth, whereas Trump’s supporters view it as a mandatory step to handle immigration considerations. “This is about protecting our country and ensuring that citizenship is not automatically granted to those who take advantage of our laws,” Trump stated in an announcement following the order’s signing.