Expert: Birthright citizenship order would mark ‘massive change’ to 157-year-old law
Description
Minnesota has joined a multi-state legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, which guarantees citizenship to all babies born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ legal status.
Supporters of the law say birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment, but Trump and his allies dispute that reading of the amendment. They say there need to be tougher standards for becoming a citizen.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is one of the 22 attorneys general taking part in the lawsuit. He told MPR News the executive order is a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
“I do anticipate this time around, the Trump Administration will be better prepared,” he said. “But those of us who swear an oath to uphold the rule of law and support the Constitution, we’re not gonna just let things go by.”
Jason Marisam, a constitutional law professor at Hamline University and a former Minnesota assistant attorney general, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to break down the case.
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