22 States Challenge Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order in Court

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A coalition of 22 states, led by Democratic officials, is taking legal action to oppose President Donald Trump's recent initiative to end birthright citizenship in the United States. The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in Massachusetts and Washington state, aim to block an executive order that would remove the automatic citizenship granted to individuals born on U.S. soil, a right protected under the 14th Amendment.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the filing and emphasized that the order is unconstitutional, stating, "The President's executive order attempting to rescind birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and quite frankly, un-American." He urged a court to prevent the order from taking effect and protect the rights of affected American-born children during the legal proceedings.

The executive order, signed shortly after Trump took office, is intended to prevent the federal government from issuing citizenship documents to children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. Critics argue this move would undermine constitutional rights established after the Civil War to protect former slaves and their descendants.

Trump's administration anticipates legal challenges, with the president asserting that the U.S. stands alone in granting birthright citizenship, a claim that is factually incorrect as several other countries, including Canada and Mexico, also have similar policies.

The outcome of these lawsuits could significantly impact immigration policy and the citizenship rights of many children born in the United States.

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