Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Limit National Injunctions, Enabling Trump’s Plan to End Constitutional Birthright Citizenship

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), proud daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and citizen by birthright, released the following statement after the Supreme Court limited the power of lower courts, allowing the Trump administration to temporarily implement its proposal to end birthright citizenship. The legal case against Trump’s plan has not been heard by the Supreme Court:

“I agree, Judge Sotomayor, no right is safe under the new regime, not even the ones clearly guaranteed under our Constitution. For more than 100 years, the 14th Amendment has reaffirmed that all people born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens, with equal rights under the law.  It has been and is the law of the land, consistently upheld by courts and scholars across the political spectrum. But in limiting nationwide injunctions, Trump’s loyalists have decided to – once again – put him above the rule of law, our Constitution, and the principles of our nation. 

Let’s be clear: While Trump is posing the question of who the “right” people are to be an American, Birthright Citizenship is still a right affirmed in our Constitution. Today’s decision does not end birthright citizenship; it creates a two-tier system for those born in states that uphold and defend the Constitution versus those born in states willing to undermine the Constitution to bow before Trump’s regime. Some Americans– sons and daughters of immigrants– will be born with citizenship, and other Americans will be born without the rights that constitutionally belong to them by birthright. The decision is not only deplorable, it is dangerous and confusing. It will result in chaos and violence, subjecting newborns and their families to the terror of ICE. 

At the same time, the Supreme Court has weakened the Judicial Branch's ability to serve as a co-equal branch of government. It rolls back the court's ability to protect our communities from the Trump Administration's attacks. Without the checks and balances ensured in the Constitution, an unaccountable executive branch is nothing less than an authoritarian government.

As a birthright citizen myself who swore an oath to the Constitution — not to Trump — I believe in and fight for a land of freedom, checks and balances, and equality for all. To live into that promise, we must stand against white nationalism and the authoritarianism threatening our country and its people. As we continue to support litigation against Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship, NOW is the moment for members of both parties to uphold their oath. Let’s pass my Born in the USA Act to stop Trump from moving forward with his white supremacist plan, uphold the Constitution, and fight against a regime threatening the very soul of our nation.”