A coalition of Democratic-led states has filed lawsuits to block President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship in the United States.
The legal challenges, brought by 22 states, including California and New York, were launched just one day after Trump returned to office and introduced a series of sweeping immigration orders.
One of the most contentious measures aims to revoke the automatic citizenship granted to anyone born on U.S. soil, a right guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
The executive order proposes that the federal government stop issuing citizenship documents, such as passports, to children born in the U.S. if their parents lack legal status or permanent residency.
Critics of the order argue that it directly violates the Constitution. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading one of the lawsuits, described the move as “blatantly unconstitutional and quite frankly, un-American.”
Bonta stated, “We are asking a court to immediately block this order from taking effect and ensure that the rights of American-born children impacted by this order remain in effect while litigation proceeds. The President has overstepped his authority by a mile with this order, and we will hold him accountable.”
The lawsuit spearheaded by California was filed in a Massachusetts federal court, while a separate suit was initiated in Washington state. Advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have also joined the legal battle by filing a similar case in New Hampshire.
The 14th Amendment, established after the U.S. Civil War, was designed to protect the rights of former slaves and their children. It 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.”
Trump’s executive order, if implemented, is set to take effect 30 days after his signature. While signing it, Trump acknowledged the likelihood of legal challenges, saying, “I think we have good grounds, but you could be right. I mean, we’ll find out.”
Trump has also faced criticism for claiming that the U.S. is the only country in the world offering birthright citizenship, a statement contradicted by the fact that countries like Canada and Mexico have similar laws.
