Supreme Court to Hear Birthright Citizenship Arguments as Advocates Hold Rally

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, April 1, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case challenging President Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. The ACLU of Maine and other advocates will host a rally outside the Supreme Court during arguments.

The nationwide class action lawsuit was filed by the ACLU of Maine, ACLU, ACLU of Massachusetts, ACLU of New Hampshire, Legal Defense Fund, Asian Law Caucus, and Democracy Defenders Fund. Cecillia Wang, the ACLU’s national legal director, will argue the case.

Courts have repeatedly blocked the Trump administration from implementing the executive order, finding it violates the plain language of the 14th Amendment, over a century of Supreme Court precedent, and a longstanding federal statute.

In its brief filed with the court, the advocates wrote that, “For generations, all three branches of the U.S. government and the American people have understood, applied, and relied on that constitutional bedrock — embodying our American values of equality and opportunity and contributing to the thriving of our Nation.”

Partner organizations, including members of We Are CASA, will join a rally in support of the plaintiffs. Hundreds are expected to attend and hear remarks from advocates, legal experts, elected officials, and community leaders reaffirming that the Constitution, not the president, defines who is a citizen. Speakers will underscore what this moment means for families nationwide, and reflect on the core American promise that anyone born here is part of our national community. Following oral arguments, members of the plaintiff legal team, including Cecillia Wang, will join the rally and deliver remarks.

Rally speakers are backed by over 300,000 people across the country who have signed a petition organized by the ACLU to show their support for birthright citizenship. Their names will be displayed in a light installation on the evening of March 31 at the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church in a symbolic display of solidarity as lawyers prepare to defend the bedrock constitutional promise enshrined in the 14th Amendment.

Supreme Court arguments in Trump v. Barbara and rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court

• Rev. William Barber, II
• Norman Wong
• Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director, ACLU
• Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director, ACLU (presenting oral arguments to the Supreme Court and speaking at the rally)
• Carlos Eduardo Espina, Activist and Content Creator
• Aarti Kohli, Executive Director, Asian Law Caucus
• DaMareo Cooper, Co-Executive Director, Center for Popular Democracy
• Juan Proaño, CEO, LULAC
• Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• Sen. Alex Padilla

Wednesday, April 1

Arguments begin at 10 a.m. ET

Rally begins at 10:30 a.m. ET

U.S. Supreme Court, 1 First St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20543

Arguments can be streamed on the Supreme Court’s website here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx

The rally will be live streamed on Facebook by We Are CASA: https://www.facebook.com/CASAforAll/