WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of the United States today issued an urgent call to action following yesterday’s Supreme Court 6-3 ruling on Trump v. Barbara, upholding birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. While the decision is a vital victory for constitutional democracy, the League warns that the razor-thin margin should alarm every American.
"Yesterday, the Supreme Court rejected a dangerous and unlawful attempt to undermine one of the clearest guarantees in our Constitution," said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer for the League of Women Voters. "The Fourteenth Amendment is not a suggestion, it is a guarantee, and no president has the power to erase constitutional rights with the stroke of a pen. This ruling prevents a profound democratic crisis and protects millions of families from uncertainty and reaffirms that no individual—not even the president—is above the Constitution."
The League of Women Voters were joined by a number of civil rights groups in this amicus brief, including the NAACP, Equal Justice Society, the National Urban League, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and which was filed on their behalf by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
"Filing this amicus brief was not optional for us; it was essential," said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. "Birthright citizenship is one of the clearest promises in our Constitution, and we stepped in because the stakes were enormous: millions of families, the stability of our constitutional system, and the integrity of the Fourteenth Amendment were all on the line. The Court needed to hear from defenders of democracy, and the League made sure they did."
CEO Stewart stressed that while the Constitution prevailed, the closeness of the ruling shows how vulnerable even long-settled rights have become.
"The Constitution didn’t change yesterday," Stewart said. "The Court simply reminded the nation what the Constitution settled more than 150 years ago. Our job now is to make sure future generations never have to wonder whether those promises will remain settled. Even the strongest constitutional guarantees require vigilant defenders."
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While yesterday’s ruling relieved millions of Americans of dread and reaffirmed that presidents cannot rewrite the Constitution on executive order, Stewart and Johnson cautioned that the promise of America came dangerously close to being lost.
"Presidents nominate judges. Senators confirm them. Voters shape both," Stewart said. "Civic participation isn’t just about choosing leaders — it’s about shaping the institutions that protect constitutional rights for generations. Yesterday’s ruling shows our constitutional system still works, but it also shows how close we came to losing a fundamental right."
Stewart continued, "We cannot afford to get this close again. Constitutional rights should never depend on razor-thin margins. Democracy requires vigilance. Rights endure only when people continue to defend them."
With the midterm elections approaching, the League urged voters to recognize the high stakes at hand. "If you haven’t already made a plan to vote, please make it now," said Stewart. "The choices Americans make in November will help determine whether our rights remain protected or continue to hang by a thread."
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