The Montgomery County Young Democrats (MCYD) condemn Donald Trump’s cruel, illegal, and unconstitutional attack on birthright citizenship and his suspension of America’s refugee program. We call on all elected officials and policymakers to oppose these harmful actions with all means at their disposal, including civil disobedience if needed.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Courts have ruled that this means every person born in the United States possesses citizenship and all the resulting rights in the Bill of Rights and beyond. Despite this clear constitutional mandate, the Trump administration issued an executive order claiming that he can exclude children of undocumented immigrants and lawful permanent residents from citizenship.
Birthright citizenship is enshrined in our Constitution and is one of the crown jewels of American democracy. If needed, we are prepared to take whatever actions are necessary to uphold it.
Additionally, the United States’s Refugee Resettlement Program has helped settle millions of refugees in the United States. From around the globe, people fleeing oppression and hardship have come to America, built new lives here, and contributed mightily to their communities and our country. Trump’s order has already harmed many refugees who are scheduled to come here and are now stuck in legal limbo. MCYD believes that America is a nation of immigrants and that, as Emma Lazarus said, we should “lift our lamp beside the golden door!”
We thank the ACLU and Attorney General Anthony Brown for suing the Trump administration and defending birthright citizenship. We urge all elected officials, agencies, and other parties to do the following:
- Issue opinions declaring that all U.S.-born babies have citizenship, and fiercely opposing any efforts to strip them of any resulting rights, and
- Welcome all refugees who have been admitted under refugee resettlement programs, and welcome future refugees who are fleeing oppression.
For more information, please contact Michael DeLong at michaeldelong94@gmail.com or 925-708-1135.