Virginia News Connection
A U.S. Supreme Court decision may have struck down President Donald Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship but mixed-status families say they remain worried about future immigration cases.
The narrow victory for immigrant rights groups comes alongside a separate ruling allowing the federal government to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Syrians and Haitians living in the U.S.
“M,” a 16-year-old in the D.C. metro area, was born in the U.S. Her mother is a Temporary Protected Status holder from El Salvador who works as a janitor. M was granted anonymity to discuss her family’s situation. Under the president’s actions, M would not have been a citizen.
“My mom migrated here for an American dream to prosper, while I’m just migrating technically just to be out of this administration’s way,” M explained. “It’s not fair to me. Any other American child here doesn’t have to worry about their parents’ deportation.”
In a 6-3 vote, justices ruled federal courts lack authority to review nonconstitutional challenges to decisions on Temporary Protected Status. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has argued birthright citizenship acts as a magnet for unauthorized immigration. M’s case was featured in an amicus brief in the birthright citizenship case.
El Salvador originally qualified for Temporary Protected Status in 2001, after a series of earthquakes devastated the country and left 1.3 million people displaced. The Department of Homeland Security has extended the designation until the beginning of September but questions remain about what comes next in light of the court’s ruling.
M added Temporary Protected Status is essential for families who have built lives in the U.S., including families like hers with children who are citizens.
“We have a reason to be mad, because we deserve the TPS still,” M asserted. “It’s not something luxurious that we want. It’s a need, and I just feel like people don’t understand that. They just go based off what the people say and what the media says.”
M is active in the Catholic Church and hopes to one day study at a premier college to become an attorney advocating for her community. She hopes to make enough money to buy a house for her mother.
