Republican state AGs back Trump birthright citizenship order in court filing: ‘Taxpayers are on the hook’

Republican attorneys general from 18 states are pushing back against lawsuits filed by Democrat AGs and legal groups nationwide challenging the Trump administration’s executive order on birthright citizenship through an amicus brief filing set to be filed Monday, Fox News Digital has learned.

The lead AG behind the amicus brief filing, Iowa AG Brenna Bird, sat down with Fox News Digital for an exclusive interview to discuss the reasoning behind their support for President Trump’s executive order. Bird emphasized that the original meaning of the United States Constitution does not grant citizenship to individuals who come to the U.S. on a tourist visa solely to have an anchor baby.

Furthermore, Bird highlighted the financial burden that taxpayers face when individuals come to the U.S. for the purpose of giving birth. She pointed out that taxpayers are often left footing the bill for healthcare costs through programs like Medicaid and state child health insurance systems. Bird emphasized that each state has a system in place to assist children without insurance, putting taxpayers at risk for covering all associated costs.

The amicus brief, which is supported by more than a dozen state AGs, argues that President Trump’s executive order is in line with the original meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. It also claims that the order serves to reduce harm to the states by deterring individuals from seeking citizenship through illegal means.

The brief goes on to highlight the powerful incentive for individuals from foreign countries to give birth on American soil, even if it means entering the country illegally. Bird shared a disturbing account from a border hospital administrator who witnessed pregnant women arriving in active labor, still wet and shivering from crossing the river, determined to give birth in the U.S.

President Trump’s executive order, titled the “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” aims to prevent individuals born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant parents from automatically receiving citizenship. The order also applies to individuals whose parents are in the U.S. lawfully but temporarily. Bird emphasized that the order is essential for upholding immigration laws and ensuring that citizenship is not rewarded to those who break the law.

In response to lawsuits filed by Democrat-led states and the ACLU, Bird and the coalition of Republican AGs are standing firm in their support of President Trump’s executive order. The amicus brief, set to be filed in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, presents a strong case for the constitutionality and necessity of the order.

As the legal battle over birthright citizenship continues to unfold, Republican AGs are making their voices heard in defense of the President’s actions. With the support of more than a dozen states, they are determined to uphold the original meaning of the Constitution and ensure that American citizenship is not granted to those who seek to exploit the system.