Washington, D.C. – New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 19 other attorneys general issued a unified statement on Thursday following oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case challenging the legality of a presidential executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship.
In their joint message, the attorneys general reaffirmed their commitment to defending the constitutional right to citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil, a principle rooted in the 14th Amendment and upheld by the Supreme Court for over a century.
“For 127 years, the law has been clear: if you are born in this country, you are a citizen of the United States,” the statement reads. “The president cannot rewrite the Constitution and contradict the Supreme Court’s own holdings with the stroke of a pen.”
“The rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution belong to everyone in this country — not just those born in states whose attorneys general have stood up to challenge the President’s unlawful executive order. It’s clear that a nationwide injunction is not only appropriate here to avoid devastating harm to the states and their residents, but is also directly aligned with prior Supreme Court precedent,” said California Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s oral arguments are one step in this important case’s progress — but it’s far from the end of the road. We’ll continue to be here, every step of the way, fighting to uphold and protect the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.”
The case centers on a controversial executive order issued by former President Donald Trump that sought to limit birthright citizenship based on the legal status of a child’s parents or the state in which the child is born. The order was immediately challenged in federal court, where judges imposed a nationwide injunction blocking its enforcement. That injunction is now under review by the Supreme Court.
The attorneys general warned that the administration’s argument—that the president can deny citizenship based on geographic or parental status—would overturn established legal precedent and create legal chaos.
“This attempt to end birthright citizenship is patently unconstitutional,” the coalition stated. “Administrations of both parties have consistently respected that right ever since it was affirmed by the Court.”
The statement was co-signed by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia, in addition to New York.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling in the coming months, a decision that could have profound implications for immigration policy, constitutional law, and the citizenship status of millions born in the United States.
