WASHINGTON, DC (LOOTPRESS) – A coalition of 18 Democratic state attorneys general has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Massachusetts, argues that the order violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
President Trump signed the controversial order on Monday, shortly after taking office. It directs federal agencies to stop issuing passports, citizenship certificates, and other official documents to children born in the U.S. if their mothers are in the country illegally or if neither parent holds legal permanent resident status.
Legal Challenge to the Executive Order
The lawsuit, joined by the cities of San Francisco and Washington, D.C., contends that the order contradicts the 14th Amendment, which has been interpreted for over a century to guarantee citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized the historical significance of the amendment, stating, “The great promise of our nation is that everyone born here is a citizen of the United States, able to achieve the American dream. This fundamental right to birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment and born from the ashes of slavery, is a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to justice.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the order “blatantly unconstitutional and un-American,” adding, “The President has overstepped his authority by a mile with this order, and we will hold him accountable.”
The attorneys general are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the order’s enforcement, with the ultimate goal of invalidating it.
States and Advocacy Groups Oppose the Order
The states participating in the lawsuit include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have filed separate legal challenges.
The order has faced widespread condemnation from civil rights organizations, which argue that it undermines a constitutional guarantee. The 14th Amendment’s first sentence 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.”
What’s Next?
President Trump’s executive order is set to take effect in 30 days unless blocked by the courts. Legal experts predict a prolonged battle over the interpretation of the 14th Amendment and the scope of presidential authority.
This latest move is part of President Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, a hallmark of his political platform. The coming weeks will determine whether the courts uphold the long-standing interpretation of birthright citizenship or allow the administration’s unprecedented policy to proceed.
