Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Washington, DC — Yesterday, the President signed two new executive orders in another attempt at shrinking the bounds of birthright citizenship. These orders follow the unambiguous Supreme Court majority ruling in Trump v Barbara which affirmed the constitutional mandate of birthright citizenship via the Fourteenth Amendment. Below is a statement from Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation:
“Yesterday, the Trump Administration demonstrated their obstinate efforts to violate the U.S. Constitution, undermine immigrant communities, target people of color, and disregard separation of powers by promulgating new executive orders designed to restrict birthright citizenship. Less than six weeks ago, the Supreme Court struck down the Administration’s previous attempt to do so, while affirming what we already knew: birthright citizenship is the law of the land, and no executive order can overturn a right so directly embedded within the Fourteenth Amendment. These latest executive orders are a brazen attempt to not only flout the Supreme Court, but also the Constitution and the legislative process that requires two thirds of Congress to vote on any changes to the Constitution.
Precedent and history are clear: the United States confers citizenship by birth; we enshrined that right to recognize the many races, ethnicities, creeds, and origins of the people who comprise our nation. These orders would defy that principle in an unconstitutional attack on families based on where they came from and on what they believe. To make matters worse, families in U.S. territories, such as in Puerto Rico, are uniquely and cruelly singled out in this latest attack, threatening millions of Americans who already face their unique set of challenges.
We are confident that these orders will not survive judicial scrutiny. While the inevitable court battles unfold, Hispanic Federation will continue fighting for the prosperity and belonging of all Americans and we urge Congress to reassert its authority to push back on these un-American attacks.”
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
