WASHINGTON DC (January 23, 2025) — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has issued the following statement in response to the federal court's ruling temporarily blocking President Trump's executive order attempting to end automatic citizenship for babies born on American soil. LULAC is a plaintiff in a separate lawsuit with the ACLU to protect birthright citizenship:
"LULAC wholeheartedly affirms the decision of the federal judge to stop this attack on one of our nation's most treasured constitutional protections," said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "Any child born on our soil has the right to be called a citizen, and that right is irrevocable and should not be tampered with. We call upon all Americans to rise in unity and respect for this important and invaluable right."
The ruling was issued by Federal District Court Judge John C Coughenour against efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration laws and reverse decades of established precedent. The executive order sought to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants, as well as to those born to mothers legally in the country on temporary visas, such as tourists, students, or temporary workers. Judge Coughenour called the executive order a "blatantly unconstitutional" attempt to undermine the Fourteenth Amendment.
LULAC has long been at the forefront of defending the constitutional rights of all individuals in the United States, particularly those impacting Latino communities. The organization views the federal court's ruling as an affirmation of the foundational principles enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees birthright citizenship to all individuals born on US soil. A preliminary injunction hearing in the LULAC case is scheduled for February 10 in US District Court in Concord, New Hampshire.
"LULAC will continue to advocate for the protection of our nation's fundamental constitutional civil rights as a nonpartisan organization that believes in our country's spirit, tradition, and legal framework," added Palomares. "These values are what set us apart from the rest of the world and are not something to be taken lightly."
About 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 lulac.org.
