Asian Law Caucus Challenges Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order in Federal Court

By Ritu Jha-

“If you are born here, you are a citizen.” 

That’s the message Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus, emphasized as her organization joined a coalition filing lawsuits against President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

The Supreme Court resolved the issue in 1898, Kohli said, making birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee that no executive order can undo.

The Asian Law Caucus, a civil rights organization supporting low-income Asian-Pacific American communities, partnered with groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Hampshire, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and State Democracy Defenders Action. Together, they filed a federal lawsuit to challenge what they call “President Trump’s unconstitutional attack on birthright citizenship.”

“There are five or six lawsuits pending now. In our case, we have a hearing on February 10,” Kohli told indica. “We filed for a preliminary injunction and will ask the judge to stop this order from taking effect until we can fully present our case.”

A similar lawsuit was heard earlier by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, who called Trump’s order “blatantly unconstitutional” and temporarily blocked it for 14 days. Kohli expressed optimism about the outcome, saying, “I am hopeful that we will be able to get a preliminary injunction. We have a very strong argument.”

Outreach and Support Efforts

As concerns mount in immigrant communities, the Asian Law Caucus has stepped up efforts to provide information and resources.

“We are creating informational materials to help the community understand their rights,” Kohli said. “We’re also updating our website, asianlawcaucus.org, with resources, and translating them into multiple languages for those who don’t read English.”

The organization has also been working closely with California’s Attorney General and San Francisco’s city attorney to strengthen protections for immigrants.

“California regulations prevent ICE from entering schools or private areas in hospitals without a judicial warrant,” Kohli said. “We want to make sure people know their rights.”

Responding to Fear and Intimidation

Kohli raised that the Trump administration’s threats of mass deportations as unrealistic and expensive.

“It would cost billions of dollars and divert funds from priorities like healthcare, infrastructure, and the economy,” she said. “They’re trying to intimidate local and state governments into doing their dirty work. In California, we’re aware of this agenda, and we’re putting a stop to it. We don’t need to invest California money in helping Trump with his deportation agenda.”

Despite being stretched thin, the Asian Law Caucus is collaborating with grassroots organizations to extend its reach and provide critical information to vulnerable communities.

“Right now, there are more people who need help than we have staff to support,” Kohli said. “But we’re doing everything we can to ensure that everyone understands their rights. Just because Trump says something doesn’t make it so.”