Santa Clara County sues Trump administration over birthright citizenship order

Santa Clara County filed a lawsuit Thursday to block President Donald Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship.

The county said Trump's executive order would impact thousands of residents in the South Bay.

Santa Clara County challenges Trump's order

What they're saying:

"Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution under the 14th Amendment," said County of Santa Clara Board President Otto Lee. "Executive orders that conflict with the Constitution have no legal standing and only create unnecessary confusion and hardship for immigrant families, and all Americans."

Trump signed the executive order on his first day in office, which would deny U.S. citizenship to the children of parents living in the country illegally. It also forbids U.S. agencies from issuing or accepting any state document recognizing citizenship for such children.

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14th Amendment

What we know:

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution promises citizenship to those born on U.S. soil, a measure ratified in 1868 to ensure citizenship for former slaves after the Civil War. But in an effort to curb unlawful immigration, Trump issued the executive order. However, a federal judge last Thursday temporarily blocked the order, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional."

Trump’s order drew immediate legal challenges across the country, with dozens of states, cities, and counties, including San Francisco and Santa Clara County, filing lawsuits.

"No president has the power to enact, amend, or repeal statutes, much less the Constitution itself," said Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti. "This order illegally instructs federal agencies and officials to refuse to follow and execute a wide range of laws that rest on the bedrock constitutional foundation of birthright citizenship.

According to data from the U.S. Census, Santa Clara County is one of the most diverse communities in America, with the largest share of immigrant residents across California's 58 counties.

More than 60% of children in the county have at least one foreign-born parent, the highest in the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Source: Information for this report comes from Santa Clara County, the Associated Press, and previous reporting.

Santa Clara CountyImmigration