Washington, D.C. – January 20, 2025
In a sweeping move that could reshape U.S. immigration policy, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Monday seeking to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. The order, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” declares that automatic citizenship will no longer apply to individuals born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
The announcement, which reignites one of the most contentious debates in American politics, was met with immediate backlash. Within hours, civil rights groups, legal scholars, and Democratic lawmakers denounced the move as a direct violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which has guaranteed birthright citizenship since 1868.
“This executive order is not only unconstitutional—it is un-American,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined 17 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit in federal court.
By Tuesday morning, a federal judge in Washington state had issued a temporary restraining order, halting the implementation of the policy, which was set to take effect next month. Legal experts widely predict that the case will reach the Supreme Court, setting up a high-stakes legal battle that could define the future of U.S. citizenship laws.
Trump, speaking to supporters in Florida, defended the order as a necessary measure to curb illegal immigration and prevent what he called “citizenship fraud.”
“This isn’t about fairness—it’s about protecting American sovereignty,” he said.
Uncertain Future
While the administration has vowed to fight the legal challenges, analysts suggest the order is unlikely to withstand constitutional scrutiny. The Fourteenth Amendment explicitly states that all persons born in the United States are citizens, regardless of their parents’ status.
Immigration advocacy groups have already pledged to challenge the order at every level. “This is an attack on our fundamental rights,” said Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.
With lawsuits mounting and courts already intervening, the battle over birthright citizenship has just begun.
