Source: The Washington Post / Getty
A coalition of Democratic-led states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump’s recent executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship.
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The lawsuit, submitted on Tuesday, seeks to block the order, which opponents argue is unconstitutional.
Shortly after taking office on Monday, President Trump signed a series of immigration-related executive actions, including a directive instructing federal agencies to deny passports, citizenship certificates, and other legal documents to certain children born in the U.S.
The order specifically targets cases where parents are undocumented or lack permanent legal residency.
The legal challenge, filed in Massachusetts, argues that the order violates the 14th Amendment, which has long been interpreted to grant citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
Several major cities have also joined the lawsuit, reinforcing concerns that the executive action oversteps presidential authority.
“Birthright citizenship is a fundamental right embedded in the Constitution and a pillar of American democracy,
” said one state attorney general leading the lawsuit. “This order is not only unlawful but undermines the very principles of equality and justice that define our nation.”
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty
The lawsuit calls for an immediate injunction to prevent enforcement while the case proceeds.
More than a dozen states, including some from both coasts and the Midwest, are backing the legal challenge.
Meanwhile, additional legal opposition emerged later Tuesday, as a separate group of states filed a similar lawsuit in Washington state.
Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, have also launched legal efforts to block the order, setting up what is expected to be a significant court battle over immigration policy.
With multiple lawsuits now in motion, the legality of the executive order will likely be determined in the courts in the months ahead.
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