Attorney General Letitia James expresses disappointment after Supreme Court weakens birthright citizenship protections

New York – New York Attorney General Letitia James has spoken out following a recent Supreme Court decision that partially stayed preliminary injunctions against the president’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship in the United States.

In a statement released Friday, James called the ruling a “profound and disappointing setback” for families across the country and criticized the Court’s decision to return the matter to lower courts for further consideration.

“Today’s decision is a profound and disappointing setback for the families who now face tremendous uncertainty and danger, for the millions of people who rely on the courts to protect their constitutional rights, and for the fundamental rule of law,” said James.

The executive order in question attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship for certain groups of people, a move that has sparked fierce legal opposition from civil rights advocates and state officials. Under the 14th Amendment, children born on U.S. soil have long been granted automatic citizenship, regardless of their parents’ immigration status — a principle that James emphasized in her remarks.

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“Every child born on U.S. soil is a citizen of this country, no matter which state they are born in. This has been the law of the land for more than a century,” she said.

The legal battle began earlier this year, when James and attorneys general from 18 other states filed a lawsuit on January 21 to block the president’s order. A federal court issued a preliminary injunction on February 13, halting the policy from taking effect. That injunction was later upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

However, the Supreme Court’s latest action temporarily weakens those legal protections. By partially staying the injunction and sending the matter back to lower courts with instructions to narrow the scope of their ruling, the Court has opened the door for further legal wrangling — and increased uncertainty for affected families.

James expressed concern about the real-life impact of the decision, particularly on immigrant communities and U.S.-born children who may now find their citizenship in question.

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“This is not over,” she said. “While I am confident that our case defending birthright citizenship will ultimately prevail, my heart breaks for the families whose lives may be upended by the uncertainty of this decision. My fellow attorneys general and I will continue to defend the Constitution and the common values that unite us.”

The case will now proceed in the lower courts, where the coalition of states will continue to challenge the legality of the executive order. In the meantime, the broader debate over the meaning and scope of the 14th Amendment continues to stir political and legal tensions nationwide.