Democrat-led states have initiated legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at ending automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are unlawfully present or on temporary visas. On Tuesday, state attorneys general filed lawsuits in federal courts located in Boston and Seattle, arguing that the executive order contravenes the U.S. Constitution, established federal immigration policies, and longstanding judicial precedent.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who spearheads a coalition of states and cities involved in the Boston lawsuit, stated in an interview, “Birthright citizenship is the law of this land.” Attorneys general from 18 states, alongside San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are participating in this case, challenging the executive order set to take effect on February 19.
A parallel lawsuit was initiated in Seattle under the leadership of Washington State Attorney General Nicholas Brown, accompanied by other states. Additionally, immigrant advocacy groups had already filed a lawsuit on Monday night, contesting the legality of Trump’s executive order.
The executive order raises questions regarding the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which historically has been viewed as conferring citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil. President Trump’s directive posits a different interpretation, focusing on the term “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” which some conservatives assert should exclude those who enter the country illegally.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell emphasized the longstanding judicial consensus around birthright citizenship, labeling it a “settled right” recognized by the Supreme Court for over a century. Trump’s order not only faces criticism for its potential societal impact but also due to the practical implications for state-administered programs that rely on federal funding tied to immigration status.
The Democratic states’ urgency is highlighted by their formal request for expedited court proceedings in Massachusetts to prevent the executive order’s enforcement. Meanwhile, the administration, through White House spokesperson Harrison Fields, has dismissed the lawsuits as a continuation of partisan resistance, declaring its readiness to confront legal opposition.
This legal contest over birthright citizenship forms part of a broader range of challenges to other measures undertaken by the Trump administration, from government cost-cutting initiatives to revisions on civil service protections, pointing to a significant judicial showdown ahead. For more information, refer to the original report.