So called “birth tourism” will face further scrutiny by the Trump White House as it looks to eliminate the practice.
By MIKE CATALINI Associated Press
New Jersey and more than a dozen states said Tuesday they are challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship.
New Jersey Democratic Attorney General Matt Platkin said Tuesday he’s leading a group of 18 states, the District of Columbia and the city of San Francisco in filing a lawsuit blocking Trump’s order.
“Presidents have broad power, but they are not kings,” Platkin said.
Trump’s order would end the policy of automatically granting citizenship to people born in the U.S., a move he said on the campaign trail he would do once in office.
Platkin and immigrants rights advocates point to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that says people born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens, saying it’s clear that it applies to people whose parents were not legally citizens at the time of their birth.
But whether Trump succeeds is far from certain as immigration advocates file lawsuits to block the president.
Here’s a closer look at birthright citizenship, Trump’s executive order and reaction to it:
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. People, for instance, in the United States on a tourist or other visa or in the country illegally can become the parents of a citizen if their child is born here.
It’s been in place for decades and enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, supporters say. But Trump and allies dispute the reading of the amendment and say there need to be tougher standards on becoming a citizen.
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