Former President Trump's recent executive actions targeting birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and bolstering border security have ignited immediate legal challenges and strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. The White House under Trump's administration expressed its readiness to defend the orders in court, characterizing the lawsuits as an extension of what they call "the Left's resistance."
The executive order, titled "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," aims to reinterpret the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause. This has spurred debate among legal experts and immigration advocacy groups, with some arguing the amendment's language is clear, while others contend it does not encompass those residing in the U.S. without legal authorization.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) swiftly filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the order, claiming it contradicts congressional intent and established Supreme Court precedent. The ACLU argues the order undermines American values and creates a class of individuals born in the U.S. but denied full citizenship rights.
The Trump administration's order specifies that birthright citizenship would not apply to children born to mothers unlawfully present in the U.S. if the father is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or if the mother's presence is lawful but temporary. The ACLU counters that birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of American identity, with the sole exception being children of foreign diplomats. They vow to vigorously challenge the order's implementation.
In addition to the birthright citizenship order, Trump signed several other executive actions related to border security and immigration, including declaring a national emergency at the border, resuming border wall construction, ending Biden-era parole policies, and designating international cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Further orders included a suspension of refugee resettlement and the implementation of an immediate removal process for migrants seeking asylum.
