BALTIMORE, Md. — Immigrant organizations in Maryland have initiated a legal challenge against an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, which aims to abolish birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. This contentious policy, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” restricts automatic U.S. citizenship to children unless one of their parents is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
Several immigrant rights groups, including CASA and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), argue that this measure contradicts the provisions of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. The groups have filed a 38-page lawsuit with the support of the Georgetown University Law Center and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP). They claim the executive order disrupts the long-established interpretation and practice of conferring citizenship by birth on U.S. soil, as further backed by a federal statute defining eligibility for birthright citizenship.
Legal discussions at a recent virtual news conference highlighted that the President does not possess the authority to alter this constitutional right. Rupa Bhattacharyya, ICAP’s legal director, emphasized, “No child born in the United States should be denied their constitutionally guaranteed right to citizenship.” The lawsuit stresses the urgent need to invalidate the executive order to prevent what is described as its potentially “devastating and chaotic impact.”
Beyond the legal arguments, CASA’s chief of programs and services, George Escobar, expressed that the lawsuit transcends mere legalities; it is fundamentally about defending the core values and identity of the United States.
As of now, no court dates have been scheduled for the hearing of the lawsuit. The plaintiffs remain hopeful for swift judicial action to overturn the executive order.
The policy has also sparked concern among immigrant communities striving to integrate and contribute positively to U.S. society. Monica, a Venezuelan immigrant who arrived in 2019 and is expecting her first child, shared her distress over the uncertainty the executive order has cast on her family’s future. Despite her efforts to adhere to U.S. laws, including working, paying taxes, and even becoming a homeowner, the looming threat posed by this executive order has overshadowed her prenatal period with unnecessary stress.
This ongoing legal battle not only reflects the ongoing national debate over immigration policy but also underscores the profound personal ramifications of such legislative actions on individuals and families striving for a better life in the U.S.
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