The Philadelphia Bar Association issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. CASA, a ruling that threatens to upend longstanding protections for birthright citizenship. The Court did not rule on whether Executive Order 14160 – the order to end birthright citizenship – is constitutional. However, it did lift the nationwide injunction that had blocked enforcement of such order and ruled that individual federal judges lack the authority to issue universal injunctions. Under today’s Supreme Court ruling, states have 30 days to obtain injunctive relief from the Executive Order. Currently 28 states, including Pennsylvania, must act within this 30-day timeframe to protect birthright citizenship.
“Birthright citizenship remains a cornerstone of American democracy, rooted in the 14th Amendment and affirmed by more than a century of legal precedent,” said Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari. “The Court’s narrow ruling creates immediate uncertainty and fear for millions of families, including those in our Commonwealth. It is imperative that legal action is taken quickly to preserve this fundamental constitutional right. The Association stands united in its commitment to upholding birthright citizenship, as evidenced by the recently passed resolution by its Board of Governors.”
