Governor Kathy Hochul responds to President Trump’s plan to roll-back protection to birthright citizenship

WASHINGTON, D.C. & ALBANY, NY- Donald Trump was sworn-in as 47th President of the United States of America on Monday and shortly thereafter signed a plethora of executive actions, ranging from pardons for some 1,500 people charged in the U.S. Capitol attacks to a TikTok reprieve, which will delay enforcement of the ban for 75-days.

Among the load of executive actions signed by the President on Monday, one has aims to end the birthright to citizenship, which is argued to be guaranteed under the 14th Amendment by a collection of advocacy groups, who have already filed a lawsuit challenging the President’s order.

Trump’s action specifically is intended to deny citizenship to children whose mothers were unlawfully present in the U.S. when they were born and the father was not a legal citizen or permanent resident, according to various sources.

Legal experts argue that the order conflicts with the 14th Amendment, but Trump reportedly suggests the language of the Amendment, claiming birthright citizenship, accrues to those who are “subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”

In a statement released from her office, New York Governor Kathy Hochul says that the state stands ready to take any action to protect the rights of Americans (see her full statement below).

“Birthright citizenship isn’t just enshrined in our constitution — it’s key to the fundamental promise of America. While we are currently reviewing specifics of the executive orders issued by President Trump today, New York is prepared to take any action within our power to ensure that those born in our state have all the rights and protections that prior generations of new Americans have been granted.”

On Monday, the President also declared a National Border Emergency.

Image via the White House.gov.