Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has joined 17 other states in supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship in the United States. The executive order, which was signed on Trump’s first day of his second term, directs federal agencies to stop issuing citizenship documents to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country unlawfully or on temporary visas.
Federal judges in Seattle and Maryland have already blocked the order, calling it unconstitutional and noting that no court has ever endorsed this interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The ruling is currently being appealed.
In a legal brief filed Monday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a coalition of 19 states, including Nebraska, arguing that the U.S. Constitution allows reasonable limits on birthright citizenship. The states contend that automatic citizenship for children born to non-citizens encourages illegal immigration and birth tourism, leading to financial burdens on education and healthcare systems.
While Hilgers’ office frequently announces legal actions Nebraska joins, there was no official statement from his office regarding the birthright citizenship case. When asked for comment, Hilgers told the Lincoln Journal Star that the current immigration system is broken and that Trump’s executive order is designed to uphold the Constitution.
The move has sparked criticism from civil rights groups and legal experts. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska condemned the order, calling it a waste of state resources and a violation of Supreme Court precedent. Legal director Rose Godinez stated that children born in the U.S. are citizens, and the ACLU will continue fighting to permanently overturn the executive order.
Critics have also pointed to what they see as political inconsistency in Hilgers’ stance. Gretna attorney Kelly Brandon questioned why Hilgers previously opposed President Biden’s student loan forgiveness as unconstitutional executive overreach, yet now supports Trump’s order without congressional approval.
With legal challenges mounting, the future of Trump’s executive order remains uncertain, but Nebraska remains among the states actively supporting its enforcement.
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