Massachusetts groups hope Supreme Court preserves birthright citizenship

Advocacy groups in Massachusetts are optimistic the Supreme Court will reject President Trump's executive order to limit birthright citizenship.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:36pm

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Immigrant advocacy groups in Massachusetts, including the Mira Coalition in Boston and La Colaborativa in Chelsea, are hopeful the Supreme Court will uphold birthright citizenship as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. After President Trump signed an executive order last year to limit birthright citizenship, these groups filed lawsuits arguing the order is unconstitutional. They remain optimistic the Supreme Court will rule in their favor and preserve the long-standing law that grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

Why it matters

Birthright citizenship has been a foundational part of the U.S. Constitution and national identity for over a century. Advocacy groups argue that revoking this right would have devastating impacts on immigrant communities, separating U.S.-born children from their parents and disrupting the lives of families who have been part of the fabric of the country for generations.

The details

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship, stating "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." After President Trump signed an executive order last year seeking to limit birthright citizenship, advocacy groups like the Mira Coalition and La Colaborativa filed lawsuits arguing the order is unconstitutional. These groups remain hopeful the Supreme Court will rule in their favor and preserve the long-standing law.

  • President Trump signed the executive order limiting birthright citizenship in 2025.
  • The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the issue this summer.

The players

Sarang Sekhavat

The chief of staff at the Mira Coalition in Boston, who is a U.S. citizen by birthright despite his parents initially being in the country on temporary visas.

Gladys Vega

The president and CEO of La Colaborativa in Chelsea, who says parents of U.S.-born children are worried every time they hear about changes to birthright citizenship.

Maura Healey

The Governor of Massachusetts, who stated that birthright citizenship is a foundational part of the state's Constitution and national identity.

Andrea Campbell

The Attorney General of Massachusetts, who called on the Supreme Court to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all residents born on U.S. soil.

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What they’re saying

“I am one of these people who, when I was born, my parents did not have permanent status, yet. They were here just on temporary visas.”

— Sarang Sekhavat, Chief of Staff, Mira Coalition

“I have to continue to be very, very optimistic that we're not going to lose that lawsuit and that we will continue to fight to protect the Constitution of the United States, which allows children who are born here to be citizens of the United States.”

— Gladys Vega, President and CEO, La Colaborativa

“Birthright citizenship is a foundational part of our Constitution and our identity as a nation. For more than a century, the law has been clear: if you are born in the United States, you are a citizen.”

— Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts

“The law is on our side, and the Supreme Court must uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all our residents born on U.S. soil.”

— Andrea Campbell, Attorney General of Massachusetts

What’s next

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the issue of birthright citizenship this summer, with a decision that will determine the future of this long-standing constitutional right.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the fundamental rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. Advocacy groups in Massachusetts remain hopeful the Supreme Court will preserve birthright citizenship, which has been a cornerstone of American identity for over a century.