SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington’s Attorney General is suing the Trump Administration over the president’s executive order to change birthright citizenship.
It is one of 22 states that have so far challenged President Trump’s executive order.
Birthright citizenship has been in place since 1868 when the 14th amendment was added to the Constitution. It gives citizenship to anyone who is born on American soil.
The lawsuit argues that the president doesn’t have jurisdiction to override this constitutional right.
“Birthright citizenship makes clear that citizenship cannot be conditions on one’s race or ethnicity or where their parents came from,” Attorney General Nick Brown said. “What’s not in the Constitution is anything saying the president has the authority to decide who is granted citizenship.”
This lawsuit comes just 24 hours after President Trump took office for the second time. Attorney General Nick Brown claims the executive order violates both the 14th amendment and the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
“On Monday, one man – the president – said that the citizenship of millions of Americans born to immigrants in this country means less. That the children of immigrants born into citizenship don’t have as much value in the county as others. He is wrong,” Brown said.
President Trump’s order would only give birthright citizenship to newborn children who have at least one parent that is either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Attorney General Brown’s office is seeking an emergency court order that prevents any federal agencies from taking action in this order denying birthright citizenship.
Along with the states that have sued, several cities and immigrant rights groups are also making an effort to stop Trump’s executive order.
The Trump Administration says this order will go into place 30 days after it was signed.
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