A coalition of 19 states and the City and County of San Francisco have filed a lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump and multiple federal agencies, challenging an executive order that seeks to restrict birthright citizenship. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argues that the order is unconstitutional and threatens the rights of hundreds of thousands of American-born children.
The lawsuit, brought by states including New York, California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, contends that the executive order, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” unlawfully attempts to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are either unlawfully present or lawfully present on a temporary basis.
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The plaintiffs argue that the order directly contradicts the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which guarantees citizenship to all individuals born on U.S. soil.
“President Trump has no authority to unilaterally rewrite the Constitution or federal statutes,” the complaint states. “This executive action is an unprecedented overreach that undermines fundamental constitutional rights.”
Key Points of the Lawsuit
- Constitutional Violation: The plaintiffs argue that the executive order violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which has long been interpreted to grant birthright citizenship to individuals born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
- Contradiction of Established Law: The lawsuit cites the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed the constitutional right to citizenship for children born to non-citizen parents.
- Impact on States and Localities: The plaintiffs assert that the order would create widespread confusion, harm state economies, and impose additional administrative burdens on state and local governments.
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The defendants named in the lawsuit include the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Acting officials within these agencies, including Acting Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman, are also listed as defendants.
The Trump administration has defended the executive order, arguing that it aims to uphold the integrity of American citizenship and prevent abuse of the immigration system. However, legal experts anticipate a protracted legal battle, with the courts likely to determine the constitutionality of the executive action.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell condemned the order, stating, “This is an egregious attack on the Constitution and our values as a nation. We will fight to protect the rights of all individuals born in the United States.”
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Similarly, California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the potential harm to immigrant communities and vowed to challenge any actions that undermine constitutional protections.
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the enforcement of the executive order. As the legal process unfolds, states and advocacy groups remain committed to defending birthright citizenship and ensuring that the constitutional rights of all individuals are upheld.
For further updates, stay tuned to official state government communications and legal proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
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