Md., Del. Attorneys General file lawsuit against executive order ending birthright citizenship

UNITED STATES – Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings both announced Tuesday that they have filed lawsuits challenging the executive order to end birthright citizenship.

As the filing explains, birthright citizenship dates back centuries to pre-Civil War America. If allowed to stand, the order would deny citizenship rights to hundreds each year in each state.

“Birthright citizenship is a right enshrined in our Constitution,” said Attorney General Brown. “It is a reflection of our country’s ideals, a belief that every baby born on U.S. soil is a member of our great nation and deserves to play a part in its future. Ending birthright citizenship is un-American, and our Office will vigorously challenge this blatantly unconstitutional decision in court.”

“We are a nation of immigrants, and a nation of laws; this executive order flies in the face of both,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The president is subordinate to the Constitution, not the other way around, and here the Constitution is unambiguous. We are taking action to defend not only American children — who deserve the same rights and opportunities as me, the president and everyone else — but the institutions that restored this country after the Civil War.”

Maryland and Delaware now join New Jersey, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., and the City of San Francisco in filling against this order.