New Jersey leads charge against Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship
HACKENSACK, N.J. — New Jersey's attorney general is leading over a dozen states in a federal lawsuit to block President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship.
The order impacts future babies born in the United States whose mothers are either in the U.S. on a temporary status, like a student or work visa, or unlawfully in the country.
"It's an assault on the very text of the Constitution, a right that our nation made sure to codify in the 14th Amendment," Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
"We have our lives fully established here"
Isela, a 24-year-old from New Jersey, is what's known as a Dreamer; her parents brought her to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 2 years old. Under Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship, if Isela were to have a child in the U.S., that baby would not be considered a U.S. citizen.
"I graduated Rutgers a year ago," she said. "We have our lives fully established here ... I don't know how we would be able to maintain a family."
Isela joined her neighbors in a rally Tuesday against the Laken Riley Act, which already passed the Senate and is expected to be voted on in the House this week. The legislation would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested for burglary or theft, even before conviction.
"That means if I suspect somebody of shoplifting or stealing change at the laundromat when I'm washing my children's clothes, that I could be subject to indefinite detention," said Nedia Morsy, deputy director of Make the Road NJ.
Trump administration says it's focused on crime
Border czar Tom Homan vows migrants who commit crimes will be deported.
"The president has been clear on this, we're going to concentrate on public safety threats," he said. "This election proves that the American people support the removal of criminal aliens in this country."
In the sanctuary city of New York, the NYPD sent out a memo reiterating, "members of service are not permitted to engage in civil immigration enforcement, assist in any manner with civil immigration enforcement, or allow any Department resources to be used in connection with civil immigration enforcement."
Police can cooperate with federal agents to apprehend people who commit 170 crimes, including rape and murder.
"Those who commit violent crimes in our city have violated their right to be in our city and in our country, and we are going to continue to collaborate with ICE around criminality," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration also threw out policies that limit the arrests of migrants in churches and schools. In Connecticut, Bridgeport Public Schools are assuring parents, "no ICE agents or government officials are permitted to enter school buildings, buses, or attend school events without prior written authorization from the Superintendent."
