The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a decision that restricts, but does not completely remove, the ability of courts to stop government policies considered illegal. As a result of this ruling, President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship will remain blocked for at least 30 days.
Following the decision, Amol Sinha, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey, commented: “Today’s Supreme Court ruling emboldens the Trump administration’s unconstitutional attacks on birthright citizenship at the expense of immigrant communities across the country. We will continue to fight to make sure this right is protected for every child born in the United States. In a time when fundamental rights continue to face unprecedented threats, New Jersey must have the courage to protect the rights of all our state’s residents. New Jersey can – and must – take the lead in protecting our communities from these dangerous federal policies. That is why we are calling on state lawmakers to immediately pass the Immigrant Trust Act.”
The issue centers on birthright citizenship, which grants automatic citizenship to anyone born within U.S. borders. The Trump administration has previously attempted to challenge this policy through executive action.
The ACLU-NJ is urging New Jersey lawmakers to respond by passing state-level protections for immigrants in light of federal actions.