Utah Resident Joins Lawsuit Challenging Trump Order

A family in Utah is among the plaintiffs in a legal challenge to a 2020 executive order issued by former President Donald Trump concerning birthright citizenship. The case is currently before the Supreme Court for consideration.

Plaintiff's Background and Concerns

One of the plaintiffs, identified as ‘Susan’ in court documents, is a citizen of Taiwan who has lived in Utah for 12 years. She initially came to the U.S. on a student visa and is now pursuing permanent residency through a work visa. Susan gave birth to her youngest child in Utah last April.

Family's Immigration Status

While Susan’s three older children are U.S. citizens, neither she nor her husband currently hold citizenship. The lawsuit expresses Susan’s concern that her youngest child could face immigration enforcement issues if birthright citizenship is not legally protected.

Supreme Court Arguments and Skepticism

During oral arguments on Wednesday, several Supreme Court justices – spanning both liberal and conservative ideologies – voiced skepticism regarding the interpretation of the 14th Amendment presented by Solicitor General D. John Sauer. Sauer argued that undocumented immigrants are not automatically granted citizenship.

ACLU of Utah Statement

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Utah released a statement supporting the lawsuit. Ellie Menlove, Director of Policy for the ACLU of Utah, stated, “For more than a century, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed the 14th Amendment guarantee that children born in the United States are citizens.”

Defending Birthright Citizenship

Menlove continued, “This case was brought, in part, by a Utah plaintiff, to defend the core American promise of birthright citizenship. We await the Supreme Court’s decision while applauding the bravery of the plaintiffs and resolve of attorneys defending this essential right.”