A local immigration lawyer is voicing concerns over one of the most controversial executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.
The order targets birthright citizenship, with the president asserting that children born to parents in the U.S. illegally are not citizens. This move has sparked legal challenges from 22 states and civil rights organizations, who argue that the Constitution is clear on the matter.
Ingrid Morfa, a Kissimmee-based immigration attorney, has been inundated with calls from concerned clients since the announcement.
“Some don’t understand what’s going to happen to them, their families,” Morfa shared. “We actually have U.S. citizens calling us because they’re worried about their family members, about their employees, about their colleagues wondering how they can help them.
On Monday, the president declared a national emergency at the border, a move Morfa acknowledges is within his rights as commander-in-chief. However, she argues that challenging the nation’s Constitution is not. The executive order aims to clarify whom birthright citizenship applies to, claiming it was not intended for the children of immigrants.
This order, which also affects individuals in the country on work, tourist, or student visas, is already facing challenges and may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Morfa warns of potential consequences if the court supports the president’s interpretation.
“It is up to the court system, the judiciary, to check on the laws made by Congress, not the executive branch. [Trump] does not have the power to say that the courts were wrong, or that the Constitution. That is not his job. So, he is overstepping boundaries that he shouldn’t. This is going to dictate the future of this country. The outcomes of that, all litigation associated with the executive orders will dictate the future of this country,” she said.
“It’s scary as a citizen because I pride myself on saying that there have been over 35,000 attempts to amend the Constitution, and they haven’t been able to only 27 times. So I pride myself on that because countries in Latin America change the constitutions frequently. New administration, a change to the convenience of the new administration and that’s why things that happen in Latin America happen in Latin America. We don’t want to copy that. If this is permissible and this conduct is permissible then where are we headed?
Despite the uncertain future, Morfa remains committed to educating people about their rights and encourages people to keep pushing forward.
“People shouldn’t lose hope,” she advised. “They have to stay focused on what their goals are and just protect themselves. It won’t last forever, hopefully.”
