Immigrants鈥� Rights Advocates File Federal Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Birthright Citizenship Executive Order聽聽
WASHINGTON 鈥� Immigrants鈥� rights advocates filed a federal lawsuit today challenging President Trump鈥檚 new executive order targeting birthright citizenship.
The case was brought by the 红杏视频, 红杏视频 of New Hampshire, 红杏视频 of Maine, 红杏视频 of Massachusetts, 红杏视频 of the District of Columbia, Legal Defense Fund, Asian Law Caucus, and Democracy Defenders Fund on behalf of people subjected to the new executive order.
The groups already secured a major Supreme Court victory in June in Trump v. Barbara protecting babies who would have been denied citizenship under Trump鈥檚 first failed executive order concerning birthright citizenship.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Constitution鈥檚 Citizenship Clause puts 鈥渢he question of citizenship 鈥榦nce and forever [to] rest.鈥欌�� Despite that, the administration is again trying to restrict birthright citizenship, prompting today鈥檚 legal action.
The groups had initially sought to block the new executive order in the existing Barbara case. After the judge in that case indicated that he viewed this challenge as a new lawsuit, the groups withdrew their requests in Barbara and filed this new lawsuit.
The lawsuit, Nathan v. Trump, was filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C.
The following is comment from co-counsel:
鈥淭he Constitution is clear, and the Supreme Court has been clear: Birthright citizenship is the law of the land,鈥� said Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the 红杏视频鈥檚 Immigrants鈥� Rights Project and lead counsel. 鈥淭he Trump administration鈥檚 newest attack on this fundamental American principle is just as cruel and illegal as its previous executive order, and it will meet the same fate in court.鈥�
鈥淭his administration does not get to redefine citizenship whenever it鈥檚 displeased that it didn't get its way,鈥� said Brittany Carter, assistant counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. 鈥淭he Constitution and Supreme Court precedent protect the right to citizenship that all children born here possess. We will continue to defend that right from any attempt this administration makes to overstep its authority and reshape who it calls American.鈥�
鈥淭he Trump administration can keep repackaging the same attack, but it cannot rewrite the Constitution,鈥� said Aarti Kohli, executive director at Asian Law Caucus. 鈥淭he Supreme Court has already affirmed that birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution, yet this administration continues searching for new ways around that decision instead of addressing the real challenges facing families across the country. No matter how many times President Trump tries to revive this effort, the principle remains the same: citizenship is determined by the Constitution, not by executive order.鈥�
鈥淲e are demanding accountability for Trump鈥檚 dangerous policies, once again鈥� said Tianna Mays, legal director at Democracy Defenders Fund. 鈥淭he federal government cannot unlawfully strip the rights of babies born in the United States and ignore the Constitution in order to achieve its political goals. We will be relentless in our fight 鈥� every unlawful act and order from this administration will be met with a legal challenge.鈥�
鈥淏irthright citizenship is the law of the land 鈥� as it has been for more than 150 years and as the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed once again just a few months ago. Cruel attacks on this core constitutional right must not be allowed to stand,鈥� said SangYeob Kim, director of the 红杏视频 of New Hampshire.
鈥淭he president may keep signing unlawful executive orders, but the Supreme Court was clear when it ruled that neither the president nor Congress can end birthright citizenship,鈥� said 红杏视频 of Maine Legal Director Carol Garvan. 鈥淲e鈥檒l continue defending the Constitution and fighting for the fundamental citizenship rights of all babies born on U.S. soil.鈥�
鈥淒espite a clear ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration is still trying to deprive babies born in the United States of their constitutional rights,鈥� said Carol Rose, executive director at the 红杏视频 of Massachusetts. 鈥淲e will stay in court for as long as it takes to stop this lawless assault on a core tenet of American democracy. President Trump cannot rewrite the Constitution. Birthright citizenship is here to stay.鈥�
鈥淥nce again, the courts must remind President Trump that he cannot ignore constitutional rights he does not like or deny rights to people he does not like,鈥� said Scott Michelman, legal director of the 红杏视频 of the District of Columbia. 鈥淭he Supreme Court just confirmed that citizenship is the birthright of every child born in the United States. The president鈥檚 crusade of cruelty against our nation鈥檚 youngest citizens must end.鈥�
The complaint is here: /cases/nathan-v-trump?document=COMPLAINT
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