HACKENSACK, N.J. — New Jersey's Attorney General, Matthew Platkin, is spearheading a federal lawsuit joined by over a dozen states to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship.

The controversial order targets future children born in the United States to mothers who are either in the country unlawfully or on temporary visas, such as those for work or study.

“This is a direct assault on the Constitution and the 14th Amendment, which enshrines birthright citizenship as a fundamental right,” Attorney General Platkin stated.

"Our Lives Are Fully Established Here"

Isela, a 24-year-old New Jersey resident and Dreamer, is one of many voicing concern over the executive order. Brought to the U.S. from Mexico by her parents at the age of two, Isela now fears for her future family.

“If I have a child here, under this order, they wouldn’t be considered a U.S. citizen,” she said. “I graduated from Rutgers a year ago. We’ve built our lives here. I don’t know how we’d manage as a family under these conditions.”

Isela joined a rally on Tuesday opposing the Laken Riley Act, legislation already passed by the Senate and awaiting a vote in the House. The act would mandate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for offenses such as burglary or theft, even before they are convicted.

Critics argue that this law could lead to unjust detentions. “If someone accuses me of shoplifting at the laundromat while washing my children’s clothes, I could face indefinite detention,” said Nedia Morsy, deputy director of Make the Road NJ.

Trump Administration Defends Focus on Crime

The Trump administration has emphasized that these measures are aimed at enhancing public safety. Border Czar Tom Homan stated, “The president has been clear: our priority is removing criminal aliens. This election shows that the American people support this approach.”

However, many local jurisdictions are taking a stand against these policies. In New York City, the NYPD reaffirmed its policy prohibiting officers from participating in civil immigration enforcement. “We will not assist with civil immigration matters or allow city resources to be used for such purposes,” the department’s memo read.

Still, the city maintains cooperation with federal authorities for individuals who commit violent crimes. “Those who violate our laws with acts of violence forfeit their right to remain in our city and country,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Changes Spark Concern Over Safe Spaces

In another move, the Trump administration eliminated policies that restricted ICE arrests in sensitive locations like churches and schools. In response, Connecticut’s Bridgeport Public Schools assured parents that no ICE agents or government officials would be permitted on school grounds, buses, or events without prior written approval from the Superintendent.

As debates intensify, communities across the nation grapple with the potential social and legal ramifications of these sweeping immigration policies.

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