NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL CHALLENGES TRUMP'S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin is spearheading a coalition of 22 states, the District of Columbia, and the city of San Francisco in a lawsuit aimed at blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The order, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” proposes denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Attorney General Platkin argues that the president cannot unilaterally amend the 14th Amendment, which enshrines the right to citizenship for all individuals born on U.S. soil. The lawsuit asserts that the executive order is unconstitutional and, if enacted, could strip over 150,000 children born annually in the U.S. of their citizenship rights, barring access to federal programs, lawful employment, and voting.

This legal challenge underscores the critical importance of safeguarding the 14th Amendment and ensuring the rights of all individuals born in the United States. By taking this action, state attorneys general are reaffirming their commitment to defending constitutional principles and the long-standing interpretation of birthright citizenship.

This lawsuit not only challenges the executive order but also sets the stage for a pivotal legal battle over the interpretation of the Constitution—one that could shape the future of citizenship rights in America.