Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called on the Supreme Court of the United States on Apr. 1 to uphold birthright citizenship as the court hears arguments regarding President Trump’s Executive Order that sought to end this constitutional guarantee.
The issue is significant because it concerns the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which has provided citizenship rights for people born in the United States for over a century and a half. The outcome could affect millions of residents born on U.S. soil.
“Birthright citizenship was born from the fight against oppression and slavery and has guaranteed equality under law for over 150 years,” said AG Campbell. “When the President tried to rewrite the Constitution, state attorneys general acted immediately. The law is on our side – and the Supreme Court must uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all our residents born on U.S. soil.”
According to background information released by Campbell’s office, she joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Executive Order one day after it was signed in January 2025. A preliminary injunction blocking enforcement nationwide was secured by Campbell in February 2025, followed by arguments before the Supreme Court that spring. While initially returning jurisdiction to a lower court, both district and appellate courts subsequently upheld rulings that found the order unconstitutional.
Campbell continued her legal efforts into early 2026 by submitting an amicus brief urging justices to affirm existing protections for birthright citizenship as established under current constitutional interpretation.
The broader implications of this case may shape how future administrations interpret or seek changes related to citizenship laws, potentially impacting civil rights across generations.
