Pregnant Moms, ASAP and CASA block Birthright Citizenship Executive Order from going into effect

GREENBELT, MD — Today, federal Judge Deborah L. Boardman ruled in favor of the five pregnant mothers who, along with CASA and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), filed a lawsuit to protect the constitutional right of birthright citizenship. During the hearing on the Motion for a Preliminary Injunction in the case CASA v. Trump, Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued a nationwide injunction, which will delay the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order from going into effect.
“All I have wanted is to focus on my baby being born healthy and safe, but instead, even though my baby will be born in the U.S., I have been worried that they will be denied a right is that guaranteed under the constitution – the right to be a U.S. citizen,” said Trinidad, a pregnant mother, member of ASAP, asylum seeker, and named plaintiff in the lawsuit. “This ruling will give mothers like me a bit of temporary relief as we navigate pregnancy and the uncertain future for our babies.”

Dulce, a 17-year-old high school student, traveled from Pennsylvania to watch the hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland. She reflected, “I’d like to share my story as a third-generation immigrant youth: I am growing up with two immigrant parents from Mexico and two amazing siblings, and I wouldn’t change a thing about my family’s story—I am proud of my roots. My parents embody hard work, love, and support. They arrived in the U.S. with nothing but their incredible working spirit. This administration has used fear tactics on our parents to paralyze their ability to simply live and provide for their families, NOW they attempt to deny citizenship to our future generations before they are even born – targeting all future second generation immigrants and limiting their ability to have a fighting chance to pursue a better quality of life, which has continued to be denied time and time again to our parents.”

“This is a victory for our families, for our communities, and for the Constitution of the United States. This is the level of fight that will be required for the next four years of the Trump administration,” said George Escobar, CASA’s Chief of Programs and Services. “The pregnant women who took this case up against President Trump — and so many immigrants across the country — can breathe easier knowing that their precious children are citizens and afforded the full rights that come with that.”

“Today, the court made the right decision to temporarily block the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order. The Executive Order has created chaos for so many families, including ASAP members, who are scared their children will not be able to live a life free of fear in the only country they will have ever known,” said Swapna Reddy, ASAP’s Co-Executive Director. “ASAP members are proud to join a historic legacy of protecting birthright citizenship and defending the 14th amendment, as generations of Black Americans, Asian immigrants, and others have done before us.”

“As with many actions of the new administration over the last two weeks, the effort to deny birthright citizenship to those born in the U.S. is ill-conceived, ill-intentioned, and illegal,” said Rupa Bhattacharyya, Legal Director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) at Georgetown Law. “We are pleased the court enjoined this unconstitutional action.”

After today’s hearing, impacted community members, CASA, ASAP, and ICAP rallied at CASA’s headquarters in Hyattsville, Maryland, and celebrated the historic victory for the immigrants who led the way in blocking this executive order from going into effect. 

“One of my dreams is to have my own dental practice, have my own home, and do it in a future where our family is also equally able to enjoy these freedoms, regardless of gender, race, or immigration status,” said Dani*, a CASA member who traveled from Georgia for this momentous occasion. “I want to achieve my dreams in a time when my family isn’t scared or worried about expressing their culture or afraid of being out in public simply because of the color of their skin. We should never be made ashamed of where we come from and be respected when we proudly say that home is HERE!”

To learn more, read the Complaint and the Brief on the Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order.

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The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) believes that asylum seekers can make change by standing together. We work with our members — over 680,000 asylum seekers — to build a more welcoming United States. Learn more about ASAP’s work at asylumadvocacy.org and follow us on X at @asylumadvocacy.

With over 173,000 lifetime members across 46 US states, CASA is a national powerhouse organization building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. CASA creates change with its powerbuilding model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members. www.wearecasa.org

The mission of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection is to use strategic legal advocacy to defend constitutional rights and values while working to restore confidence in the integrity of governmental institutions. Connect with ICAP at www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/[email protected], or @GeorgetownICAP