New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed disappointment following the United States Supreme Court’s decision to partially stay preliminary injunctions related to the president’s executive order on birthright citizenship. The matter has been sent back to lower courts for further consideration.
In her statement, Attorney General James remarked, “Today’s decision is a profound and disappointing setback for the families who now face tremendous uncertainty and danger, for the millions of people who rely on the courts to protect their constitutional rights, and for the fundamental rule of law.”
James emphasized that birthright citizenship has been established in U.S. law for over a century, stating, “Every child born on U.S. soil is a citizen of this country, no matter which state they are born in.”
She assured that efforts to defend birthright citizenship would continue despite the recent development. “This is not over,” she stated. “While I am confident that our case defending birthright citizenship will ultimately prevail, my heart breaks for the families whose lives may be upended by the uncertainty of this decision.”
The legal challenge began on January 21 when Attorney General James and representatives from 18 other states filed a lawsuit against what they deemed an unconstitutional executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. The coalition initially secured a preliminary injunction on February 13, which was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. However, today’s Supreme Court ruling modifies this injunction and requires further proceedings at lower court levels.
