EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County has joined other local governments in filing a brief to support a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order on removing birthright citizenship, according to the El Paso County Attorney’s Office.
The executive order specifically seeks to “redefine citizenship by removing birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without legal immigration status,” the County Attorney’s Office said.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted this past Monday, Jan. 27, to approve the filing brief, which argues that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The County Attorney’s Office says the amendment guarantees citizenship to all people born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction.
The amicus brief warns of harm if the executive order is implemented and highlights that local governments would face “administrative chaos and financial strain,” the County Attorney’s Office said.
“Birth certificates would no longer serve as proof of citizenship, requiring new systems for verification. Children could lose access to essential benefits like Medicaid, SNAP, and CHIP, further burdening local resources,” the County Attorney’s Office said.
The amicus brief also argues that a “nationwide injunction” is necessary to prevent widespread harm and protect constitutional rights, the County Attorney’s Office said.
An amicus brief is a legal document filed by a person, organization, or county that is not a party to a case but is interested in the outcome.
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