Trump Moves to End Birthright Citizenship; NY Attorney General James Vows Legal Fight

President Donald Trump signed a slate of executive orders on his first day in office, keeping campaign promises

As part of his first action as president, Donald Trump signed a slate of executive orders Monday including one seeking to end birthright citizenship in the United States, a move that some legal experts and state officials across the nation swiftly denounced as unconstitutional. The order aims to deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil to noncitizen parents, a right traditionally protected under the 14th Amendment.

“I have an obligation to protect the integrity of our borders and ensure that our immigration system serves the interests of the American people,” Trump said at the White House. “This executive order is about closing a longstanding legal loophole and safeguarding American sovereignty.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James quickly released a statement rebuking the move and citing the 14th Amendment.

“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,” James said. “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. We are reviewing our legal options.”

Legal scholars from across the political spectrum have expressed doubts about the executive order’s viability, pointing to the clear language of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many argue that changing this guarantee would require an act of Congress or a constitutional amendment, rather than an executive order.

Several civil rights organizations announced they would join efforts to challenge the order. “Birthright citizenship is a bedrock principle that has made America what it is today,” said Omar Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union. “This executive order, if left unchecked, threatens to overturn more than a century of established law.”

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the administration anticipates a protracted legal battle. “We are confident in our legal authority to interpret the 14th Amendment properly,” the official said, echoing previous statements from Trump that the executive branch has the power to define and enforce immigration law.

As attorneys general nationwide prepare to file suit, it remains unclear when or if the order could take effect. Legal experts say any move to revise or remove birthright citizenship protections will likely be tied up in court for months, if not years, opening another front in the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the limits of executive power.