Rights Advocates, States and Cities Sue to Protect Birthright Citizenship

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In two lawsuits against the Trump administration, a collection of rights advocacy groups and 22 states plus 2 cities seek to block his 20 January 2025 executive order denying birthright citizenship to some people born in the USA.

The executive order restricts birthright citizenship based on the citizenship or permanent resident status of the parents. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution confers birthright citizenship with no mention of such restrictions.

One legal action is led by California, Massachusetts and New Jersey. That lawsuit asks a court to block Trump’s order on the grounds that federal law and the Constitution’s 14th amendment grant citizenship to most children born on US soil citizenship.

Another legal action is brought by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) including some of its state chapters, Asian Law Caucus, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and Legal Defense Fund in regard to babies born on USA soil for whom the executive order denies citizenship. The lawsuit says administration is going against the Constitution, Congressional intent, and Supreme Court precedents.

The 14th Amendment Section 1 grants citizenship to “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.” The only regularly acknowledged exception is a child born to a foreign diplomat (therefore not subject to the jurisdiction of the USA).

Click here for more details about the advocacy organization lawsuit.

Click here for more details about the lawsuit by states and cities.