Trump Executive Order to Overthrow Constitution Fails–For Now

Washington, D.C. – Today, a federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to revoke the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. The unconstitutional order seeks to undermine 150 years of legal precedent, forcing federal agencies to strip citizenship of certain children born on U.S. soil. While the ruling temporarily halts Trump’s dangerous overreach, his Republican allies in Congress are expected to introduce a bill this week that mirrors the order, continuing a cruel assault on immigrants and American families.

In response, Immigration Hub Co-Executive Director Beatriz Lopez released the following statement:

“As a daughter of immigrants who would have been born as a second-class citizen had Trump’s policy been in place, I applaud the federal judge for blocking this executive order. Birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of American democracy, guaranteed by the 14th amendment and upheld for generations. Any attempt to revoke this right is not only unconstitutional, but a direct attack on the values that define our nation.

While this decision provides temporary relief, the fight is far from over. We are deeply alarmed by reports that Trump’s Republican allies plan to introduce legislation attempting to codify this dangerous executive order. Instead of focusing on delivering relief and lowering costs for working families, Trump is waging a futile attack on the Constitution, attempting to dismantle a fundamental American right and establishing a permanent underclass in the nation.

Let’s be clear: this executive order, along with the others he signed this week, are all about targeting and keeping immigrants from becoming Americans. What makes this nation one of the strongest in the world is not that a tyrant or an oligarchy gets to decide who is worthy of the American identity, but rather that our democracy is a beacon of freedom and opportunity that generations of immigrants have strengthened. It is why the majority of the American public reject Trump’s dangerous agenda – and today so did the courts.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.