NHCSL Condemns SCOTUS Opinion on Trump v. CASA

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, in response to the Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) opinion overturning nationwide injunctions of federal courts in Washington, Massachusetts and Maryland preventing Executive Order 14160, Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship from ending birthright citizenship, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) released the following statement:

“The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution clearly outlines that all persons ‘born or naturalized’ in the United States are citizens unless they are children of diplomats. Yet, today’s decision paves the way for a legal patchwork throughout all states, potentially jeopardizing the constitutional rights of thousands of U.S.-born children.

“The decision in Trump v. CASA is an extremely disappointing verdict that destabilizes checks and balances in favor of the Executive Branch. Without nationwide injunctions, we can expect different interpretations— and thus different outcomes— based on the state you live in and the circuit court that has jurisdiction over you.

“Moreover, people who cannot financially afford a lawyer to make their case will be excluded from judicial protections that will now only apply to plaintiffs who personally sue or are lucky enough to be covered by a class action. This will not only overburden our courts but also make the delivery of justice even slower.

“Today, we witnessed a further slide into a justice system that delivers based on your individual capacity to navigate it and the zipcode you live in. A system that delivers justice for the wealthy, but not for the poor.

“We stand with CASA, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, and all immigration advocacy groups that are working hard to protect the birth rights the Constitution recognizes to all Americans.”

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The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the premier national association of Hispanic state legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. NHCSL was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 450 Hispanic legislators. For more information visit www.nhcsl.org.