A coalition of more than 15 Democratic Attorneys General files a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship in the United States. The controversial order, signed shortly after Trump was sworn back into office, seeks to deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil to non-citizen parents, sparking fierce legal and political battles across the nation.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Boston, argues that the executive order is unconstitutional and violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States. The attorneys general leading the challenge represent states including New York, California, Massachusetts, and Arizona. They assert that the executive order undermines long-standing constitutional protections and targets immigrant communities.
New York Attorney General Letitia James calls the order “a direct attack on the foundational principles of equality and inclusion enshrined in our Constitution.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta adds that the move is an “unprecedented overreach of executive power that threatens the rights of millions.”
Civil rights organizations and immigrant advocacy groups have also joined the legal challenge, filing separate lawsuits to block the order. These groups argue that the executive action is discriminatory, erodes the rights of immigrants, and creates fear and uncertainty for millions of families. They warn that the policy could lead to a significant increase in stateless individuals born in the U.S. who would lack citizenship in any country.
President Trump defends the executive order as a necessary step to address what he calls “abuse of our immigration system.” Speaking at a press conference, Trump argues that the practice of birthright citizenship incentivizes illegal immigration and undermines national sovereignty. He asserts that the order will ensure that citizenship is “reserved for those who uphold the values and responsibilities of being American.”
The move has reignited a divisive national debate over immigration policy and constitutional interpretation. Legal scholars emphasize that the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, established in 1868, explicitly grants citizenship to all persons born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Trump’s critics argue that any change to this precedent would require a constitutional amendment, not an executive order.
The case is expected to advance quickly through the courts, potentially reaching the Supreme Court for a final decision. The stakes are high, as the outcome could reshape the interpretation of citizenship in the United States and significantly impact millions of individuals born to immigrant parents.
As legal proceedings begin, protests erupt across major U.S. cities, with demonstrators voicing their opposition to the executive order and calling for the protection of immigrant rights. Supporters of the order, however, rally behind Trump, framing the policy as a step toward greater control over immigration and national identity.
The unfolding legal and political battle over birthright citizenship is poised to become a defining issue of Trump’s second term, with implications that could resonate for generations to come.
