Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling brings relief to immigrant advocacy group in Baltimore
By Breana Ross
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BALTIMORE, Maryland (WBAL) — Immigrant advocates in Baltimore are relieved by the Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship.
Leaders with the immigrant advocacy group, We Are CASA, are breathing a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold birthright citizenship.
“It’s a moment of tremendous relief, right? Especially for so many pregnant mothers right now that are about to give birth,” said George Escobar, executive director of We Are CASA. “Regardless of who is in power in the White House, now they know that as long as that child is born in the United States, it’s going to be a U.S. citizen.”
The decision has provided comfort to many people served by CASA, who had been reaching out to the organization, worried about the implications of President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship.
“We’re really dismayed by the fact that it took a slim majority of the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the Constitution,” Escobar told WBAL-TV 11 News.
CASA had sued the Trump administration early last year over the executive order, but the Supreme Court did not rule on the constitutionality of the order at that time.
Legal experts say the Constitution’s 14th Amendment supports the Supreme Court’s decision.
“The 14th Amendment plainly says that anybody born in America and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States is a citizen, so in many ways, if you put the politics aside, I don’t know what the fuss was about,” said Andrew White, a partner at Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin and White, LLC.
Birthright citizenship ruling
In a 5-4 ruling affirming a broad conception of birthright citizenship, the Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s executive order which declared that children born to parents in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.
“I thought it was a victory for the definition of America that’s been understood since the Civil War. I thought it was a victory for Supreme Court following precedent and a victory for proper use of history,” said Michael Meyerson, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Baltimore School of Law
Despite the relief brought by the decision, Escobar said CASA’s work is not over.
“We want to make sure that the court and Congress know that we’re going to continue fighting,” Escobar told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Escobar said CASA plans to fight a recent Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to strip Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria, which could lead to the cancellation of this status for more people.
Maryland leaders respond to court’s rulings Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) “As the son of an immigrant, single mom, I would not be here today without the promise that this country makes to every child born on its land: You belong here, no matter where your parents came from or how much money they had in their pocket. For generations, the promise that every child born on American soil is an American citizen has been woven into the very fabric of our Constitution. Today’s ruling affirms that promise.
“This decision is a welcome relief to the immigrant communities across Maryland who have faced relentless attacks from this federal administration over the past two years. The White House does not get to pick and choose who has the right to be an American.
“Every child born in this country is a child of opportunity, regardless of their parents’ immigration status or where their family’s story began. In Maryland, we will continue to support the immigrant neighbors and communities who help make our state stronger every day, and we will never leave them behind.”
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) “Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a constitutional guarantee that has defined this nation for more than 150 years: Birthright citizenship. It is now settled law that every child born in Maryland has all the same privileges and protections as any other American citizen. This ruling is a victory for our Constitution and the promise that every child born in the United States deserves to help shape its future. It is a victory for nervous parents, terrified that the court would cast doubt on whether their children are U.S. citizens. And it is a victory for the rule of law, ensuring that the president cannot rewrite the Constitution simply because he does not like the rights it gives the people he has sworn to serve.”
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) “Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed what the 14th Amendment has always said: If you are born in America, you are an American. This right is not a loophole. It is a promise written into our Constitution after the Civil War, a promise that belonging cannot depend on who your parents are, where they came from, or what paperwork they carry.
“As President Ronald Reagan declared in his farewell address, the most defining factor of our nation is this: You can come from anywhere on Earth and become an American. And that includes giving birth to children here who grow up to become our future. That idea is not weakness. It is our greatest strength.
“Today’s ruling protects millions of children from statelessness. It protects the integrity of the 14th Amendment. And it reaffirms that no president — no matter who they are — can rewrite the Constitution with a pen and executive order.
“The fight to dismantle this principle was never really about immigration policy. It was about deciding who counts. Who belongs. Who gets a voice. ‘We the People’ must mean all of us. Thankfully, today, the Supreme Court agreed.”
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland “The Supreme Court did the right thing today and upheld birthright citizenship. If you are born in the United States, you are a citizen of the United States. Our country and our laws do not bend to this president’s whims and bigotry. This country belongs to the people.”
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-District 1 “I think that people born foreigners who come here specifically for the purpose of delivering a baby, that child probably is subject to the jurisdiction of the parents’ original country. So, I think they got it wrong and maybe we can solve that through Congress.”
U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-District 2 “If you’re born in America, you’re a citizen. That’s not up for debate — it’s in the Constitution. That’s why I joined my colleagues last year in filing an amicus brief challenging Trump’s attack on birthright citizenship. And that’s why today’s ruling is a win for our nation.”
U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-District 3 “Birthright citizenship is a fundamental Constitutional right. It is not a privilege. Despite President Trump’s best efforts to nullify birthright citizenship, the Supreme Court stood firm and upheld the 14th Amendment. This is a big sigh of relief for families in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District and across the country, but this is not the end. Just days away from the 250th anniversary of our nation, I am reminded of the work ahead to build a more perfect union for all where everyone — regardless of the color of their skin or country of origin — can participate fully and without fear in our great democratic experiment.”
U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-District 6 “SCOTUS did the right thing by rejecting an unlawful attempt to end birthright citizenship. The 14th Amendment is clear: If you’re born in the United States, you’re a citizen. Period. No president, including Donald Trump, can rewrite the Constitution with an executive order. I will always defend the Constitution and the rule of law.”
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-District 8 “President Trump’s quest to destroy birthright citizenship has failed. The president’s executive order was a direct and blatant violation of the first sentence of the 14th Amendment, as numerous district and appeals court judges ruled. Today, a narrow majority of the Supreme Court, including one justice nominated by Trump himself (Justice Amy Coney Barrett), rejected the president’s blood-and-soil attempt to deny a huge number of children born in America their equal constitutional birthright.”
Mayor Brandon Scott, D-Baltimore “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what the Constitution has said for more than 150 years: If you are born in America, you are an American citizen. Birthright citizenship has enabled families from every wave of immigration to put down roots, contribute to their communities, and strengthen our nation. The certainty of citizenship allows people to invest in their futures and fully participate in American life.
“At the same time, we know that the fight to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms is not over. While today’s decision is an important step in the right direction, we must continue to defend one another, our Constitution, and the promise that everyone is equal under the law.”
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