Trump's birthright citizenship order faces legal battle
The president's action is a blatant violation of our constitution, assessed New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who leads the coalition of 18 states challenging Donald Trump's decree. It concerns the repeal of the right for certain individuals to obtain citizenship by birth.
Trump signed the executive order on this issue on his first day in office. According to the decree, his administration will not recognize citizenship by birth for children born on U.S. territory if their parents are in the country illegally, reports the PhillyVoice service.
According to Platkin and the attorneys general of 17 other Democratic-run states, Trump's decision is a "flagrant violation of our Constitution."
Prosecutors fight Trump
State prosecutors prepared for illegal actions, so an immediate lawsuit sends a clear message to the Trump administration that we will defend our residents and their fundamental constitutional rights, explained Platkin in a statement.
PhillyVoice reminds readers that obtaining American citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which was adopted by Congress in 1868.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, states the amendment.
The Trump administration believes that the 14th Amendment "has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States." Furthermore, children of immigrants residing in the U.S. without permission will not automatically receive citizenship. Trump's decree will take effect on February 19. The purpose of the lawsuit is to block this decree, which will be decided by the court.
According to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the president's decree will impact the civil rights of thousands who will lose access to the Medicaid welfare program, among other things, or children's health insurance programs.
The Trump administration's executive order attempting to revoke citizenship of some children born in the United States does not have the power to nullify the Constitution. The 14th Amendment guarantees that every child born in the United States is a citizen regardless of race, colour, or origin, assessed Amol Sinha, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, a non-profit organization focused on civil rights.
