By: Ashmar Mandou

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, declaring that children born to people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. Several elected officials released statements upon the ruling.

“Today the Supreme Court sided with the Constitution. Since the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868, the Constitution has left little to the imagination: all persons born or naturalized in the United States are United States citizens. Today’s ruling reaffirms the foundational values of America and protects the rights and freedoms of those who call it home.” –Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

“This ruling cements what the Constitution has long guaranteed. Children born on American soil are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The Trump administration’s attempt to place conditions on birthright citizenship, a constitutional right that has characterized our nation for over a century, is a gross misuse of power.” –State Senator Karina Villa

“The Fourteenth Amendment has been clear – since its inception 158 years ago – that everyone born in the United States is deserving of equal protection under the law. Yet, hoping to fulfill a xenophobic and discriminatory campaign promise, President Trump sought to overturn a century and a half of legal precedent. Today’s ruling affirms a simple truth: anyone can come to America and become an American. No president, court or legislature can or should attempt to take that away from us.” –State Representative Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez

“Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what we know in our hearts and in our communities: the 14th Amendment extends the promise of citizenship to everyone born in the U.S.  Immigrants belong. And no one can deny that immigrants today are also the inheritors of the promise of America – just like so many of my colleagues’ ancestors were.” –Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez

“Today, the Supreme Court ruled that a president cannot terminate a constitutional right by executive order. The Constitution clearly states that babies born in the United States are citizens. Birthright citizenship is fundamental to who we are as a nation and it’s a right that we will keep defending for future generations of U.S.-born babies.” –Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García