NY Sues Trump Over Ending Birthright Citizenship

NEW YORK— New York and 17 other states are challenging President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship in the United States.

The lawsuit that seeks to block Trump's order from taking effect, saying it violates a constitutional right that has been in existence for over 150 years. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James spoke out: "For over 156 years, the United States Constitution has clearly stated that anyone born on our nation’s soil is a citizen of the United States. President Trump cannot ignore the 14th Amendment, or any part of our Constitution.

“This executive order is nothing but an attempt to sow division and fear, but we are prepared to fight back with the full force of the law to uphold the integrity of our Constitution. As Attorney General, I will always protect the legal rights of immigrants and their families and communities.”

Trump’s order excludes the following people from automatic citizenship: those whose mothers were not legally in the United States and whose fathers were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; people whose mothers were in the country legally but on a temporary basis and whose fathers were not citizens or legal permanent residents.

This new lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts federal court, seeks a preliminary injunction against the executive order.

Also joining the lawsuit were California, Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia and the City of San Francisco.

Gov. Kathy Hochul added: "Birthright citizenship isn’t just enshrined in our constitution — it’s key to the fundamental promise of America. While we are currently reviewing specifics of the executive orders issued by President Trump today, New York is prepared to take any action within our power to ensure that those born in our state have all the rights and protections that prior generations of new Americans have been granted."