ACLU Files Lawsuit Just Hours After Trump Signed Executive Order Addressing Birthright Citizenship

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship.

The lawsuit was filed in New Hampshire on Monday evening, just hours after the executive order was signed.

Under Trump’s order, a baby born in the United States will not have automatic citizenship unless one of the parents is a citizen or green card holder.

The order states:

It is the policy of the United States that no department or agency of the United States government shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship, to persons: (1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth.

“On a prospective basis, the federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States,” a Trump official explained on a call with reporters about the orders.

The ACLU argues that the order violates the 14th Amendment and the Administrative Procedures Act.

“Denying citizenship to U.S.-born children is not only unconstitutional — it’s also a reckless and ruthless repudiation of American values. Birthright citizenship is part of what makes the United States the strong and dynamic nation that it is.

This order seeks to repeat one of the gravest errors in American history, by creating a permanent subclass of people born in the U.S. who are denied full rights as Americans,” Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement.

“We will not let this attack on newborns and future generations of Americans go unchallenged. The Trump administration’s overreach is so egregious that we are confident we will ultimately prevail.”