ProtectingtheMeaningandValueofAmerican
DateIssued:January20,2025
Topic:CivilRights,Immigration
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisorderendsbirthrightcitizenshipinthe14thAmendmentfora)those whose“motherwasunlawfullypresentintheUnitedStatesandthefather wasnotaUnitesState’scitizenorlawfulpermanentresidentatthetime ofsaidperson’sbirth”andb)thosewhose“mother’spresenceinthe UnitedStatesatthetimeofsaidperson’sbirthwaslawfulbuttemporary andthefatherwasnotaUnitedStatescitizenorlawfulpermanent residentatthetimeofsaidperson’sbirth.”Thisincludesthosebornto bothundocumentedimmigrantsandthoseinthecountryontourist, work,orstudentvisas.
Theorderprohibitsfederaldepartmentsoragenciesfromissuing documentsrecognizingUScitizenship,oracceptingdocumentsissued bystate,local,orothergovernmentalauthoritiesthatrecognize citizenshipofthepersonsnamedabove.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
ThisorderappliestothosebornintheUnitesStatesthirtydaysafterthis orderwasissued.
TheorderauthorizestheSecretaryofState,theAttorneyGeneral,the SecretaryofHomelandSecurity,andtheCommissionerofSocialSecurity to“takeallappropriatemeasurestoensuretheregulationsandpoliciesof theirdepartmentsandagenciesareconsistentwiththisorder.”
Federalagencyanddepartmentheadsmustissuepublicexplanationsof theirplanstoimplementthisorderwithintheiragenciesanddepartments within30daysofthedatethisorderwasissued.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Birthrightcitizenship,ratifiedin1868,isaprotectionthatwasbornoutof theaftermathoftheCivilWartoensurethatformerlyenslavedBlack Americansweregrantedcivilrights.
Immediately,thisorderhassownfearanduncertaintyinBlackmigrant communities,particularlythosefromtheCaribbeanandAfrica,who alreadyfacesystemicbarrierswithintheimmigrationandlegalsystems. DenyingcitizenshiptoUSbornchildrenwouldleadtoreducedaccessto resourcesineducation,healthcare,andeconomicopportunities.
Overthelastfiveyears,Salisbury,Marylandhasexperiencedasignificant increaseinitsHaitianpopulation,partlyduetopoliticalunrestinHaiti. Thiscommunityhasbeenintegraltothelocaleconomy,withmany employedinpoultryprocessingplantsandcontributingtovariouslocal businesses.
However,heightenedfearsofImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement (ICE)raidshaveledtonoticeablechangesincommunitybehavior.Many immigrantsarechoosingtostayhome,resultingindecreased patronageoflocalbusinesses.Thisdeclineincustomerturnouthas raisedconcernsamongbusinessownersaboutthesustainabilityoftheir enterprises.
Inthelongterm,thisorderwouldsetthefoundationforahereditary castesysteminwhichchildrenanddescendantsofBlackimmigrants wouldneverbecomecitizens,perpetuatingcyclesof disenfranchisement.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
EightmembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)havespokenout againstthisorder,citingitasunconstitutional,reaffirmingAmerica’sidentity asa“nationofimmigrants,”andrearticulatingacommitmenttofightingfor therightsofallAmericans.CBCChairRep.YvetteD.Clarke,alongwithother Tri-CaucusChairs,releasedajointstatement.Selectstatementsfrom individualCBCMembersarefeaturedbelow.
Rep.YvetteD.Clarke,ChairoftheCBC:“IwasborninFlatbush,Brooklyn60 yearsagototwoJamaicanimmigrants.Mycitizenshipismybirthright.If DonaldTrumpwantstotellme,myfamily,myneighborsinBrooklynand acrossNewYorkandaroundtheUnitedStatesthatourcitizenshipis illegitimateandwearenotproperAmericans,thenheshouldexpecttohear fromthetensofmillionsofAmericanshejustdisgraced.Wearewitnessing ashamelessabuseofpower,andIcansaywithcertaintytheimmigrant communitywillnotstandbyasitprogressesfurther.WewillnotyieldtoMr. Trump’simpropriety,illegality,andcruelty.”FullStatement
Rep.SydneyKamlager-Dove,CBCWhip,Co-ChairoftheGlobal MigrationCaucus:“Nomatterhowhardhetries,DonaldTrumpcannot erasethefundamentaltruththattheUnitedStatesisanationof immigrants.Hemaypushhisanti-immigrantagenda,buthecannot diminishthediverseculturesandidentitieswovenintothetapestryofour country.”FullStatement