New York Attorney General Letitia James welcomed a federal court ruling that preserves birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it a victory for constitutional values and equal rights under the law.
Her statement came in response to U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin’s decision to uphold a nationwide injunction blocking a presidential executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship. The court reaffirmed that children born on U.S. soil are entitled to citizenship, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
“As we have repeatedly said, birthright citizenship is the law of the land,” said Attorney General James. “The Constitution is more than just mere words on parchment, it reflects our values. All children born on these shores are citizens bound to be respected under the law.”
The legal challenge, led by Attorney General James and joined by 18 other state attorneys general, was filed on January 21. The lawsuit argued that the executive order was unconstitutional and contradicted longstanding legal precedent. In her filing, James highlighted the historical and legal foundation of birthright citizenship, which was enshrined in the 14th Amendment following the Civil War.
Though the Supreme Court’s infamous Dred Scott decision once denied citizenship to the descendants of enslaved people, the 14th Amendment reversed that injustice. The Supreme Court has since reaffirmed birthright citizenship on two separate occasions, cementing it as a constitutional guarantee.
Judge Sorokin’s ruling ensures the executive order will not take effect, preserving the legal status of millions of American-born children.
The decision is being seen as a major win for civil rights advocates and immigrant communities nationwide, including Caribbean-Americans who have benefited from birthright citizenship for decades.
