A coalition of civil rights and immigration rights groups has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that aims to end birthright citizenship in the United States. This legal action sets the stage for a significant and protracted legal battle over a key aspect of Trump's immigration policy.
The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), various state ACLU chapters, and other organizations on behalf of immigration groups affected by the order, argues that Trump's action violates federal law and the US Constitution. The 17-page suit contends that the executive order seeks to deprive children of citizenship, potentially subjecting them to a lifetime of exclusion and deportation.
The plaintiffs are seeking a federal court in New Hampshire to declare the order unlawful and to block it both temporarily and permanently. Trump's order, signed on Monday, states that the government will not grant citizenship documents to children born in the US to parents who are in the country unlawfully or temporarily.
The order specifies that it will only apply to children born after 30 days from the date of the order. The lawsuit notes that some members of the immigration groups are expecting children who may fall under the order's provisions, raising concerns about potential statelessness for these children.
The legal challenge underscores the deep divide over immigration policy in the US and the contentious nature of efforts to alter birthright citizenship. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the rights of children born to undocumented immigrants in the country.
