(The Center Square) – Illinois political leaders are sounding off on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling curbing nationwide injunctions over executive orders restricting birthright citizenship.
The high court didn’t decide the issue of birthright citizenship but in its 6-3 ruling Friday limited the lower court rulings to apply only to those who sue to block Trump’s order. A group of Democrat-led states sued along with expectant mothers and immigration organizations who filed suit. Among them were Illinois.
“Even after today’s decision, birthright citizenship – a rule that has governed our country since the end of the Civil War – remains the law in Illinois,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “President Trump’s attempt to strip American babies of citizenship is a flagrantly unconstitutional move that disregards the 14th Amendment and the principle of separation of powers upon which our government was founded.”
As someone who is a birthright citizen, Raoul said it’s a deeply personal issue for him.
“As our case continues, I will continue to fight alongside our coalition in challenging President Trump’s executive order and am confident that, under the guidance provided today by the U.S. Supreme Court, our arguments for complete relief will prevail,” Raoul said.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said the Supreme Court’s decision is a “devastating blow to the separation of powers that is enshrined in our Constitution.”
“By issuing this ruling, the Supreme Court is stating that courts cannot block even the most lawless actions of the Trump Administration on a nationwide basis,” Durbin said. “The Supreme Court is playing procedural games with the most fundamental right explicitly protected by our Constitution, the right of citizenship.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who just announced his campaign for a third term as governor, said the ruling is a “dangerous sign that Donald Trump is further consolidating power and putting his own interest above the needs of the American people.”
“As Trump and his allies continue to attack the Rule of Law and undermine the foundations of the United States Constitution, Illinois will stay true to who we are: we are the Land of Lincoln, and we will forcefully defend the freedoms and rights of our people,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, posted on X, that the ruling is a “clear rebuke of activist judges and yet another major victory for President Trump.”
“A single District Court judge should not be able to issue injunctions that derail a president’s national agenda,” Bost said. “This is an issue that has frustrated presidents of both parties for decades. The Court acted rightly to provide a sense of clarity the system has lacked for too long.”
Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, said the ruling “is a major victory for the rule of law and our nation’s sovereignty.”
“77 MILLION Americans voted for President Trump’s America First agenda,” she posted. “End birthright citizenship!!”
