Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting former President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and non-citizens.
The brief urges the Court to overturn nationwide injunctions blocking the order, arguing that the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause should be interpreted by its original meaning.
Skrmetti criticized judicial overreach and nationwide injunctions, stating they disrupt the balance of power and national policymaking. He cited historical records suggesting the amendment’s drafters did not intend to grant citizenship to children of those in the country illegally.
Skrmetti also warned that the current broad interpretation encourages illegal immigration and strains public resources, especially in non-border states like Tennessee. Trump’s order has been blocked by multiple lower courts and is currently under review.
