We’re heading to the U.S. Supreme Court next Wednesday to defend birthright citizenship in our case Barbara v. Trump. Together with ACLU National, affiliates from across New England, and other advocates, we’ll be defending the core American promise that anyone born here is a U.S. citizen and part of our national community.
Just hours after President Trump took the oath of office, we filed a lawsuit challenging his executive order attempting to ban birthright citizenship. Multiple federal courts acted swiftly and blocked the order because it violates the plain language of the 14th Amendment, congressional intent, and over a century of Supreme Court precedent.
In June 2025, the Supreme Court limited the options available for our initial case to apply nationwide, so we immediately filed this nationwide class action lawsuit. The president appealed to the Supreme Court, and the case will be argued next week.
Birthright citizenship has been the law of the land since the 14th Amendment was enacted in 1866. It is a core reason that the United States has been seen for generations as a beacon of freedom and opportunity around the world. Successive waves of immigrants have shaped and reshaped every aspect of our society and culture, from the food we eat and the music we listen to, to our regional accents and religious practices. As Americans, we are bound by our values and commitment to a pluralistic, free society – not by our family heritage.
President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship is a profound abuse of executive power and part of a broader strategy to reshape who is recognized as fully belonging in this country. But we will defend our rights. The Constitution, not the president, defines who is a citizen.
You can listen to the arguments live on Wednesday, April 1, beginning at 10 a.m.,and follow us on social media or visit our website for live updates from D.C. and more information as the case moves forward.
