Attorneys General uniting to block Trump’s birthright citizenship order

President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship would end a nearly 160-year-old right granted by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Fellow Democratic attorneys general across the country are uniting to block President Trump’s executive order.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk about one of two lawsuits launched against President Trump and the U.S. government, saying the President’s executive order violates the U.S. Constitution.

The 14th Amendment gives American citizenship to anyone born in the United States, including the children of undocumented immigrants. Attorney General Mayes’ suit alleges President Trump is seeking to wield authority that is not within the scope of power of the Executive Branch.

Thoughts and actions

According to Attorney General Mayes, this is the second week in a row of “blatant, unconstitutional action by Donald Trump.”

She added, “It also violated statutory provisions, and so I joined with, as you said, 21 other A.G.s across this country to sue to stop it, to get a temporary restraining order against his action, and to prevent devastating losses to the people of Arizona. I mean, this thing would have crushed out rural hospitals. It would have denied Medicaid payments.”

Attorney General Mayes then elaborated on the details of stopping this policy; she explained they sued on several grounds. One is that it violates the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).

“So whenever, you know, you want to change the law or change a funding stream or in appropriations, you have to go through a process under the APA, more importantly, it’s unconstitutional,” said Attorney General Mayes.

“Our primary focus right now is making sure the kids still have a school to go to. The kids should not be the victims of this mismanagement,” said Attorney General Mayes.