Attorney General Kwame Raoul has issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court's hearing of arguments in three lawsuits, including one he filed alongside three other attorneys general. These lawsuits challenge an executive order by former President Trump that sought to end birthright citizenship unilaterally. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Washington Attorney General Nicholas W. Brown joining Raoul.
In February, a federal court granted a nationwide preliminary injunction to halt the implementation of Trump's executive order. Raoul expressed his commitment to defending the Constitution and protecting Illinois residents' rights, stating: “As Illinois’ Attorney General, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and to protect the rights of all Illinois residents."
Raoul emphasized his personal connection to the issue as a birthright citizen himself and voiced pride in standing with his colleagues to defend the 14th Amendment: "I am proud to stand with my colleagues to defend the rule of law and the 14th Amendment, which was enshrined in our Constitution more than 150 years ago."
He criticized the government's arguments presented during court proceedings: “The government’s own arguments today demonstrated how little thought was given to the practical implementation or impact of stripping citizenship from thousands of infants born in this country." He further stressed that no president can disregard constitutional law unilaterally.
Raoul highlighted Justice Jackson's view on presidential authority being bound by law: "Justice Jackson rightly stated that the president of the United States is supposed to be bound by the law, and the courts have the authority to determine what the law is."
The coalition remains committed against what they describe as an unlawful attempt by Trump's administration: “Our coalition remains firmly committed to defending against the Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to upend the 14th Amendment and sow confusion and fear throughout the country.”