How Trump’s Executive Order Harms People
Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship is an unprecedented and unconstitutional attack on our democracy. By targeting babies born in the U.S., this policy creates a subclass of stateless children, deprived of their rights and opportunities. These babies, through no fault of their own, could be denied access to healthcare, education, and basic protections, leaving them and their families vulnerable to exploitation and hardship.
The executive order also deepens inequality by targeting immigrant families, weaponizing fear and xenophobia, and turning newborns into political pawns. It threatens to destabilize communities, impose significant legal and financial burdens on families, and open the door to further erosion of constitutional rights. If the 14th Amendment can be so easily disregarded, what’s next? This is not just an attack on immigrants; it’s an attack on the Constitution itself, one that endangers every American’s civil liberties.
The Legal Fight Against Trump’s Order
Eighteen states have already filed lawsuits to challenge this unconstitutional executive order. Legal experts from across the political spectrum agree: this move is blatantly illegal. Leading these efforts is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has filed a landmark suit to protect the 14th Amendment and ensure no child born on U.S. soil is denied their citizenship. The ACLU’s lawsuit details how the executive order creates statelessness for newborns, deprives them of fundamental protections, and violates America’s long-standing commitment to equality under the law.
On January 23, a federal judge temporarily blocked the order, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” Emphasis on temporary: This legal process is far from done and the order could go into effect while it all plays out.
Public pressure is critical to getting governors to continue to issue birth certificates to every child born in their states, regardless of Trump’s actions. This fight is about defending the promise of the Constitution and the dignity of every child born in this country.
