The controversy over birthright citizenship has escalated rapidly following President Donald Trump’s recent executive order. This measure, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” aims to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to parents without legal authorization to reside in the country. According to the order, only those born to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents would retain this right.

The response has been swift and contentious. A group of attorneys general from 22 states has filed lawsuits to block the decision, arguing that it directly undermines the U.S. Constitution. One prominent lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts by a coalition of 18 states, asserts that the measure “violates constitutional rights” and imposes “undue costs” on local jurisdictions, which could lose federal funding for children’s health programs. The lawsuit further claims that the order attempts to “dismantle a long-standing and well-established constitutional principle.”

Defending the Constitution

Immigrant rights advocates and Democratic attorneys general have expressed strong opposition, insisting that the policy is unconstitutional. “For over 150 years, our country has adhered to the same rule: babies born here are U.S. citizens,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. At a press conference, he added, “The president lacks the authority to erase the 14th Amendment with the stroke of a pen. This is not just an attack on the law; it is an attack on the core values of our nation.”

Separately, an additional group of four states—Arizona, Oregon, Illinois, and Washington—filed a lawsuit in Seattle. Meanwhile, several civil rights and legal organizations have turned to courts in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, representing parents whose children would be excluded from citizenship under this new policy.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also joined the chorus of criticism, calling Trump’s order “unconstitutional and deeply dangerous.” According to James, the measure not only challenges the established legal framework but also endangers the very essence of American values. “While presidents wield broad powers, they are not kings,” she emphasized.

A Long Legal Battle Ahead

This legal dispute signals the beginning of what is expected to be a prolonged judicial battle, with far-reaching implications for immigration policy and the future of thousands of children in the United States.