Attorney General welcomes court order upholding birthright citizenship for C’bean immigrants

NEW YORK (CMC):

New York Attorney General Letitia James has welcomed a court order upholding birthright citizenship for Caribbean and other immigrants.

A United States District Court judge in the District of Massachusetts has ruled that birthright citizenship will remain protected across the country.

“As we have repeatedly said, birthright citizenship is the law of the land,” James told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), adding 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,” she said.

James and 18 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit on January 21, challenging US President Donald Trump’s “unconstitutional executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship.”

Last Friday, Judge Leo Sorokin reaffirmed his preliminary injunction barring the president’s order from taking effect nationwide. On February 13, the court granted the coalition’s motion for a preliminary injunction, which was later upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

But in early July, the US Supreme Court, the highest court in America, partially stayed the preliminary injunction, sending the issue back to the lower courts to narrow their order.

However, on July 10, a federal district court ruling blocked Trump’s executive order terminating birthright citizenship from becoming effective anywhere in the country.

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.