Padilla Cosponsors Bill to Block Implementation of Trump’s Blatantly Unconstitutional Attempt to Eliminate Birthright Citizenship
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined nine of his colleagues in introducing the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States, or a similar subsequent executive order. This bill would prevent any government funds from being used to carry out or enforce this or any future directive, as any such order necessarily violates the birthright citizenship provisions in the Constitution.
Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a federal judge’s temporary block on the order’s implementation. The order has been enjoined by at least four federal courts.
“President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship is an attack on the basic rights enshrined in our Constitution,” said Senator Padilla. “His illegal executive order is nothing more than an attempt to instill fear and chaos in communities throughout America. The Constitution is clear: if you’re born in the United States, you’re a citizen of the United States.”
Padilla cosponsored the bill, led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress opposing President Trump’s anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric. He sharply criticized President Trump’s harmful executive orders targeting immigrants at the start of his Administration. Padilla also opposed advancing the nomination of Attorney General Pam Bondi after she repeatedly refused to affirm that birthright citizenship is the law. Last year, Padilla emphasized the dangers and immense economic costs of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Full text of the Born in the USA Act is available here.
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