New lawsuit filed after SCOTUS rules on birthright citizenship
DETAILS. THE PLAINTIFFS CALLED THIS A SAD AND CONFUSING DAY AND SAID THEY’VE ALREADY TAKEN THE NEXT STEPS, SAID TWO HOURS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION, THEY FILED A NEW CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT IN MARYLAND. WE DON’T THINK THIS ORDER SHOULD GO INTO EFFECT OR WILL GO INTO EFFECT AS TO ANYONE, ANYWHERE, EVER. AND IT IS OUR INTENTION TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN. REACTION TO THE RULING FROM THE PLAINTIFFS, INCLUDING CASA OF MARYLAND AND SOME OF THE MARYLAND MOTHERS THAT FILED SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT BACK IN JANUARY, CALLING THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I’M SAD ABOUT WHAT TODAY’S DECISION MEANS FOR ALL OF THE PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION, AND WHO ARE NOW EVEN MORE SCARED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN’S FUTURE. THE WOMEN TODAY, SPEAKING ANONYMOUSLY AND USING PSEUDONYMS, SAID THEY’RE LEADING THE WAY WITH A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT WAS FILED JUST HOURS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY. I WILL BE A CLASS REPRESENTATIVE SO THAT EVERY FAMILY THAT IS WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP DOESN’T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COURTS TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN HAVE U.S. CITIZENSHIP. THE NEW FILING, SEEKING IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CLASS EVEN BEFORE THAT CLASS IS CERTIFIED. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID 2 MILLION PEOPLE FILING 2 MILLION INDIVIDUAL LAWSUITS, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE. AND SO IT’S GOING TO SLOW DOWN JUSTICE. BUT IT MAY NOT STOP IT. HERE’S UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE LAW PROFESSOR MICHAEL MYERSON. ALL THIS DOES IS SLOW THINGS DOWN. IT IS, HOWEVER, A BIG DEFEAT FOR THOSE WHO WANT QUICK JUSTICE. BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE PLAINTIFFS. THEY SAY THAT THE COURT GREENLIGHTS THE NEW CLASS ACTION BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ACTUALLY TAKES EFFECT IN 30 DAYS. OUTSIDE U.S. DISTRICT COU
Plaintiffs file class-action lawsuit after Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship ruling
Updated: 6:17 PM EDT Jun 27, 2025
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The Maryland plaintiffs in a case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court called Friday a sad and confusing day after the high court released its ruling.A day after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January to ban birthright citizenship, several pregnant women in Maryland and two organizations representing them challenged the action in court, calling it unconstitutional.A federal judge agreed with the plaintiffs and issued a nationwide injunction.The Supreme Court ruled Friday that federal judges lack the authority to grant nationwide injunctions and called the federal judge’s ruling in this case an overreach.| COURT DOCUMENTS: The complaint | Supreme Court’s decision | Class-action lawsuitJustice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in the majority’s opinion that federal courts “do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch; they resolve cases and controversies consistent with the authority Congress has given them. When a court concludes that the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too.”The president, speaking in the White House briefing room, said that the decision was “amazing” and a “monumental victory for the Constitution,” the separation of powers and the rule of law.However, the court left open the possibility that the changes to birthright citizenship could remain blocked nationwide. Trump’s order would deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people who are in the country illegally or temporarily.The plaintiffs, speaking anonymously and using pseudonyms, said at a news conference Friday that they’re leading a federal class-action lawsuit that was filed in a federal court in Maryland just hours after the Supreme Court decision.”I’m sad about what today’s decision means for all of the parents whose children are not protected by the preliminary injunction and who are now even more scared about their children’s future,” said a woman identified as “Liza,” a plaintiff. “I will be a class representative so that every family that is worried about their children’s constitutional right, birthright citizenship, doesn’t have to go through the courts to make sure their children have U.S. citizenship.””We don’t think this order should go into effect … and it is our intention to continue to fight to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Will Powell, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “We think now, given the Supreme Court’s decision, the best and most effective way for us to get relief for everyone is going to be the class action.”The new filing seeks immediate relief for the “members of the class” even before that class is certified.Michael Meyerson, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and the director of the Fannie Angelos Program for Academic Excellence, explained the impact of what the legal action could have.”That is the only way to avoid 2 million people filing 2 million individual lawsuits, which makes no sense, and so it’s going to slow down justice, but it may not stop it,” Meyerson told 11 News. “All this does is slow things down. It is, however, a big defeat for those who want quick justice.”The cases now return to lower courts, where judges will have to decide how to tailor their orders to comply with the high court ruling. The plaintiffs said they hope the court approves the new class-action lawsuit before the Supreme Court decision takes effect in 30 days.”I’m proud to continue to fight for the rights of all of those babies in my own,” Liza said.Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing in dissent for the three liberal justices, called the decision “nothing less than an open invitation for the government to bypass the Constitution.” This is so, Sotomayor said, because the administration may be able to enforce a policy even when it has been challenged and found to be unconstitutional by a lower court.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore posted a statement on X, saying:”As the son of an immigrant, single mom and as someone whose family has benefited from birthright citizenship, this issue is personal to me. But that alone doesn’t explain my frustration with this ruling. “Birthright citizenship has long been a core part of our constitutional fabric and immigration policy. This Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. CASA Inc. strikes years of legal precedent and brings further confusion to families already facing so many obstacles and uncertainties.”Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown released a statement, saying:”In light of the Supreme Court’s decision this morning, I recognize that families across our country must continue to live with uncertainty about whether their children — born on U.S. soil — will be recognized as American citizens. “But the decision continues to leave open a question on what relief is necessary to address the president’s blatantly unconstitutional mandate. And, this un-American executive order still will not go into effect immediately. This fight is not over. We will continue to challenge this unlawful order — because justice demands it.”The Associated Press contributed to this report.| MAP BELOW: These are the countries that allow birthright citizenshipPHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
BALTIMORE (WBAL & AP) —
The Maryland plaintiffs in a case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court called Friday a sad and confusing day after the high court released its ruling.
A day after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January to ban birthright citizenship, several pregnant women in Maryland and two organizations representing them challenged the action in court, calling it unconstitutional.
A federal judge agreed with the plaintiffs and issued a nationwide injunction.
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that federal judges lack the authority to grant nationwide injunctions and called the federal judge’s ruling in this case an overreach.
| COURT DOCUMENTS: The complaint | Supreme Court’s decision | Class-action lawsuit
Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in the majority’s opinion that federal courts “do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch; they resolve cases and controversies consistent with the authority Congress has given them. When a court concludes that the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too.”
The president, speaking in the White House briefing room, said that the decision was “amazing” and a “monumental victory for the Constitution,” the separation of powers and the rule of law.
However, the court left open the possibility that the changes to birthright citizenship could remain blocked nationwide. Trump’s order would deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people who are in the country illegally or temporarily.
The plaintiffs, speaking anonymously and using pseudonyms, said at a news conference Friday that they’re leading a federal class-action lawsuit that was filed in a federal court in Maryland just hours after the Supreme Court decision.
“I’m sad about what today’s decision means for all of the parents whose children are not protected by the preliminary injunction and who are now even more scared about their children’s future,” said a woman identified as “Liza,” a plaintiff. “I will be a class representative so that every family that is worried about their children’s constitutional right, birthright citizenship, doesn’t have to go through the courts to make sure their children have U.S. citizenship.”
“We don’t think this order should go into effect … and it is our intention to continue to fight to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Will Powell, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “We think now, given the Supreme Court’s decision, the best and most effective way for us to get relief for everyone is going to be the class action.”
The new filing seeks immediate relief for the “members of the class” even before that class is certified.
Michael Meyerson, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and the director of the Fannie Angelos Program for Academic Excellence, explained the impact of what the legal action could have.
“That is the only way to avoid 2 million people filing 2 million individual lawsuits, which makes no sense, and so it’s going to slow down justice, but it may not stop it,” Meyerson told 11 News. “All this does is slow things down. It is, however, a big defeat for those who want quick justice.”
The cases now return to lower courts, where judges will have to decide how to tailor their orders to comply with the high court ruling. The plaintiffs said they hope the court approves the new class-action lawsuit before the Supreme Court decision takes effect in 30 days.
“I’m proud to continue to fight for the rights of all of those babies in my own,” Liza said.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing in dissent for the three liberal justices, called the decision “nothing less than an open invitation for the government to bypass the Constitution.” This is so, Sotomayor said, because the administration may be able to enforce a policy even when it has been challenged and found to be unconstitutional by a lower court.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore posted a statement on X, saying:
“As the son of an immigrant, single mom and as someone whose family has benefited from birthright citizenship, this issue is personal to me. But that alone doesn’t explain my frustration with this ruling. “Birthright citizenship has long been a core part of our constitutional fabric and immigration policy. This Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. CASA Inc. strikes years of legal precedent and brings further confusion to families already facing so many obstacles and uncertainties.”
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown released a statement, saying:
“In light of the Supreme Court’s decision this morning, I recognize that families across our country must continue to live with uncertainty about whether their children — born on U.S. soil — will be recognized as American citizens. “But the decision continues to leave open a question on what relief is necessary to address the president’s blatantly unconstitutional mandate. And, this un-American executive order still will not go into effect immediately. This fight is not over. We will continue to challenge this unlawful order — because justice demands it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
| MAP BELOW: These are the countries that allow birthright citizenship
