UNITED STATES (CMC) — A group of advocacy organizations representing immigrant communities has launched a lawsuit in response to a controversial executive order issued by the Trump administration, which seeks to revoke birthright citizenship for babies born in the United States.
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) alongside several other prominent legal groups, including the ACLU of New Hampshire, ACLU of Maine, and the Asian Law Caucus. The plaintiffs argue that the executive order violates constitutional rights and disproportionately affects children born to immigrant families.
Anthony Romero, the ACLU’s executive director, criticized the move, describing it as a blatant attack on the foundational values of American democracy. “The idea that a child born in this country can be denied citizenship is not only unconstitutional; it undermines the principles of fairness, equality, and inclusion that this nation was built upon,” Romero said.
The case hinges on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parent’s nationality, with limited exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats. The legal challenge argues that this amendment, which was ratified in 1868 to guarantee equal rights for all Americans, cannot be overturned by executive fiat.
“This executive order is a dangerous and unlawful move that will harm countless children and their families,” said Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “Birthright citizenship is a fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution, and we are committed to defending it.”
The lawsuit is gaining traction as it becomes a focal point for immigrant rights groups across the country. According to legal experts, the order threatens to create a class of individuals born in the U.S. who may be denied citizenship, despite having no ties to any other country. This could potentially render them stateless, a scenario that many critics argue is both morally and legally indefensible.
In a separate move, the attorney general of New York, Letitia James, announced that a coalition of 18 states, along with the City of San Francisco, is challenging the executive order. “This action goes against the very fabric of our nation,” James said. “The right to citizenship for those born on U.S. soil is a core principle of the American identity, and we will not allow it to be stripped away.”
Legal scholars are closely watching the unfolding case, as its outcome could have lasting implications for immigration policy and constitutional law. If the court sides with the plaintiffs, it would reaffirm the longstanding principle that birthright citizenship is an inviolable right for all children born in the United States.
As the legal battle intensifies, advocates for immigrant communities remain determined to fight for the rights of U.S.-born children, promising to continue their efforts until the executive order is overturned.
