League of United Latin American Citizens Slams Executive Order Targeting Birthright Citizenship

WASHINGTON - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) released the following statement on President Trump’s signing of an executive order targeting birthright citizenship, a right provided by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

"While we support sound immigration policies, we must also uphold the United States Constitution. Any attempt to undermine the constitutionally protected birthright of those born in this country is an affront to both our laws and human decency,” said Roman Palomares, national president of LULAC “We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with this administration to address genuine challenges and implement solutions that will enhance our nation's safety, security, and prosperity."

“With this executive order, the President of the United States is once again attempting to violate the civil rights of American citizens and their immigrant family members,” said Juan Proaño, chief executive officer of LULAC. “This effort to demonize Brown and Black immigrants targets all immigrants in this country, regardless of their background. If not stopped, it will undermine the very essence of what it means to be an American and will tear families apart.”

LULAC is part of a group of immigrants rights advocates that filed a lawsuit challenging the effort late last night. The lawsuit charges the Trump administration with flouting the Constitution’s dictates, congressional intent, and longstanding Supreme Court precedent. The lawsuit was filed by American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Hampshire, ACLU of Maine, ACLU of Massachusetts, Asian Law Caucus, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and Legal Defense Fund on behalf of organizations with members whose babies born on U.S. soil will be denied citizenship under the order, including New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Make the Road New York.

The complaint can be found online here.

This press release can be found online here.

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About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit https://lulac.org/.