Trump signed the executive order Jan. 20, 2025, the first day of his second term, prompting Santa Clara County to file a federal lawsuit<\/a> 10 days later arguing the order violated the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case months later, and advocates said the months leading up to Tuesday\u2019s decision created uncertainty for many immigrant families.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can breathe a sigh of relief that birthright citizenship was upheld. But this decision isn\u2019t made in a vacuum,\u201d Huy Tran, executive director of the Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN), told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201dThe fact that this right is being attacked means that we can\u2019t take anything for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n Birthright citizenship, established under the 14th Amendment, grants automatic U.S. citizenship to nearly everyone born in the country regardless of their parents\u2019 immigration status, with limited exceptions.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople who come to the U.S. for work or school or are asylum seekers \u2014 our process can take a while,\u201d Tran said. \u201cThroughout the process, people fall in love, they have families and those kids become citizens through birthright. The families can establish themselves and find some stability.\u201d<\/p>\n For Victor V\u00e1zquez, executive director of SOMOS Mayfair, the debate over birthright citizenship revived memories of California\u2019s Proposition 187, the 1994 ballot measure that sought to deny public services to undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up during the Proposition 187 era,\u201d V\u00e1zquez told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cThis brings memories of people trying to vilify and take away our rights as U.S. citizens, especially the children of immigrants.\u201d<\/p>\n V\u00e1zquez said the months leading up to the ruling created anxiety among people who questioned whether they truly belonged in the country despite being born here.<\/p>\n Jessica Paz-Cedillos, CEO of the Mexican Heritage Plaza and a San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight columnist<\/a>, said the decision reaffirmed a principle that extends beyond immigration policy.<\/p>\n \u201cBirthright citizenship reflects one of our nation\u2019s most enduring promises: that every child born here belongs here,\u201d Paz-Cedillos told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cAt the Mexican Heritage Plaza, we see everyday that our diversity is our greatest strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
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