They are suing over an executive order.
A group of progressive organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order, which seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents living here illegally. Along with the ACLU, several other advocacy groups, including the Asian Law Caucus and the Legal Defense Fund, are part of the lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. The organizations argue that the executive order is unconstitutional and goes against American values, with ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero calling it a dangerous attack on birthright citizenship.
The executive order, issued by Trump shortly after taking office, aims to remove the provision in the 14th Amendment that grants automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. The order argues that the 14th Amendment was not meant to grant citizenship universally and that it has always excluded certain individuals from this right. The order further specifies that children born to undocumented mothers or those with temporary legal status would not automatically be granted citizenship.
The ACLU and other groups argue that this change would undermine the principles of equality and fairness enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. They emphasize that birthright citizenship is an important aspect of the nation’s strength and dynamism. These groups are determined to challenge the policy in court, confident that they will ultimately prevail in their efforts to protect the rights of children born in the U.S.
Organizations such as World Relief, a Christian humanitarian group, have also criticized the executive order, arguing that it is not only unconstitutional but also shortsighted. They warn that denying citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants would result in a growing population of people living unlawfully in the country, without the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. This could hinder their ability to contribute to society and negatively impact the country as a whole.
The debate over birthright citizenship is not new, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1898 in the case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark that children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents are entitled to citizenship. This legal precedent has long upheld the principle of birthright citizenship, and the new executive order faces significant legal challenges in light of this historical ruling.
