Prominent Democrats at the federal and state levels celebrated Tuesday’s Supreme Court decision that upheld birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, dealing a blow to the Trump administration.
Though they were ecstatic about the news, Democratic lawmakers stressed the importance of being proactive and not getting too comfortable following the ruling.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), a son of Mexican immigrants, urged his party to remain vigilant.
“While we celebrate this ruling today, we cannot rest,” Padilla posted on X. “Because this is certainly not the end of Trump’s attacks on our Constitution, our democracy, and the notion of what it means to be American. As Americans, we will continue to organize, vote, legislate, and litigate because our country depends on it.”
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) made a similar statement, saying that “there is much more to do” in terms of letting immigrants who have resided in the United States for a long time obtain citizenship.
“The President and Congress must urgently work together to secure our border, repair our broken asylum system, and provide a path to legal status for the millions of people who have lived here for decades, working hard and contributing to their communities,” Suozzi wrote. “We need an immigration system that keeps our communities safe while treating people with dignity and humanity. Today’s decision is an important step in the right direction.”
In its 6-3 majority opinion, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to limit citizenship for children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The high court rejected the administration’s argument that such children should not be granted automatic citizenship.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was among the Democratic leaders who expressed gratitude toward the Supreme Court.
“No matter how much President Trump tries to steal citizenship from people that the Constitution has said have earned it and reverse the grand American tradition of welcoming newcomers to our nation, the Supreme Court confirmed today that those born in America are American,” Schumer said on social media.
Shortly after the ruling, Republican lawmakers rushed to sound support for a constitutional amendment pushed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) that would end birthright citizenship. Paul introduced the amendment in April as a preemptive measure if the Supreme Court did not “address this issue correctly.”
Separately, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) is moving forward with a bill to amend a portion of the Immigration and Nationality Act that would clarify the citizenship clause under the 14th Amendment.
Democrats, who are seeking to flip both chambers of Congress this year, are all but guaranteed to oppose all GOP-led legislative efforts to end birthright citizenship.
Meanwhile, multiple Democratic governors joined the online chorus of voices supporting the decision affirming birthright citizenship. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), whose grandparents were Irish immigrants, took the Supreme Court’s decision personally.
“For generations, immigrants have come to New York in search of freedom and opportunity, helping build the strongest, most vibrant state in the nation,” Hochul said. “The Statue of Liberty stands proudly in our harbor, and New York will always stand with those seeking the promise of America.”