Voto Latino Condemns Trump’s Executive Order to End Birthright Citizenship: An Assault on the 14th Amendment
Stripping away birthright citizenship would turn millions of Americans into second-class citizens overnight
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Voto Latino, the national organization dedicated to empowering Latino communities through civic engagement, unequivocally condemns President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship in the United States.
“After decades of government inaction, there is no doubt that it is time to modernize our immigration system to meet the needs of our nation for the 21st Century. However, Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship falls short of what this moment demands. Especially at a time when global birth rates are declining, we should celebrate and embrace all children born on American soil. For over two centuries, immigrants – regardless of status – and their children have renewed our nation through grit, hard work, and innovation making us the envy of the world,” said Maria Teresa Kumar, Co-Founder and President of Voto Latino.
“Eliminating birthright citizenship is not only punitive but far from strategic. Trump’s executive order violates our Constitution and undermines our fundamental belief in families. Immigration and the 14th Amendment are what have made America great – they form the backbone of our nation. Any attempt to strip this right is a direct affront to the principles of equality and justice and the values that define our nation.
Instead of propelling us into the 21st Century, ending birthright citizenship would create a permanent underclass, depriving individuals of the basic rights and protections that come with U.S. citizenship while undermining our innovative progress.
A diverse America is our super power. Immigrants, regardless of status, play a vital role in our nation’s workforce, drive economic growth, and enrich the cultural diversity that defines America.
Voto Latino urges lawmakers, community leaders, and allies to protect the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and ensure that all children born in the U.S. have the opportunity to thrive as full citizens of this country.”
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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latino voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered over 1.4 million voters, mobilized tens of thousands of voters in the 2022 midterms, helping to defeat the so-called “red wave” and keep the Senate majority-Democrat. In 2024, Voto Latino filed several lawsuits to defend voting rights in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina ahead of the elections.