Court rulings and official announcements

President Trump Ends Birthright Citizenship; 18 States and ACLU Sue Over Order

Jan 21, 2025, 12:00 PM

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to illegal immigrants and temporary visa holders. The order, which reinterprets the 14th Amendment and takes effect in 30 days, aims to deny automatic citizenship to those born on U.S. soil to parents who lack legal status or hold temporary visas. The move has sparked immediate legal challenges from civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, calling the order a 'full-frontal attack on the U.S. Constitution,' announced that California and 17 other states are suing to block the executive order. The issue is expected to be tied up in courts, with opponents arguing that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.