Utah Attorney General Derek Brown and 17 other attorneys general are attempting to erase birthright citizenship — an American principle enshrined in the 14th Amendment — through a legal argument that’s about as sturdy as a house of cards in a wind tunnel.
For over a century, the U.S. has recognized that if you’re born here, you’re a citizen — period. But Brown wants us to believe that a president can undo this with an executive order. That’s like claiming you can rewrite the laws of physics with a memo. It’s not just unconstitutional; it’s legally flimsy and historically ignorant.
Brown argues that birthright citizenship encourages “illegal immigration and birth tourism,” as if newborns are orchestrating elaborate schemes to claim Social Security benefits from their cribs. The real legal precedent, reinforced by the Supreme Court in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), affirms that the 14th Amendment applies to all children born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ status.
Even Utah’s own Republican governor, Spencer Cox, has pointed out that Trump’s order is unconstitutional. When Cox is the voice of reason, it’s a sign that Brown’s argument is more about political posturing than legal integrity.
We should be strengthening our constitutional principles, not treating them like rough drafts. Birthright citizenship is not up for debate — it’s settled law, and it should stay that way.
Alex McMurray, Castro Valley, Calif.
