US legislator welcomes federal court ruling

NEW YORK, (CMC):

A leading Haitian-American legislator Friday welcomed a United States federal district court ruling blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order terminating birthright citizenship from becoming effective anywhere in the country.

On Thursday, Judge Joseph LaPlante of New Hampshire federal district court issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the president’s order and certifying a class action lawsuit that includes all affected children.

In his order, the judge issued a seven-day pause to permit appeal.

“I strongly condemn this dangerous and draconian attempt to strip away birthright citizenship – a fundamental right enshrined in the 14th Amendment – and a cornerstone of our American democracy,” New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“It is outrageous that we are once again forced to defend the basic humanity and constitutional protections of immigrant children,” added the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York.

“Let me be clear: President Trump’s executive order is not just unconstitutional, it is un-American,” said the daughter of Haitian immigrants.

She said Trump is trying to send a menacing message to the children of immigrants,”like myself, that our place in this country is now conditionally based on our race – but we’re a country based on laws, built by immigrants.

“We must remain vigilant, and, while this issue is now fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, it underscores the urgency for Congress to take legislative action to protect birthright citizenship once and for all. We cannot allow political fear-mongering to dismantle generations of progress and our democracy.

“In New York and across the country, we will fight for every child’s right to belong, and we will remain a welcoming beacon and home for immigrants,” Bichotte Hermelyn said.

The San Diego, California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) last week “forcefully” condemned the United States Supreme Court’s decision in partially staying preliminary injunctions on Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order for Caribbean and other immigrants, sending the issue back to lower courts for further action.

Caribbean immigration advocates and legislators have also condemned the Supreme Court’s decision.