PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island and Massachusetts are joining 22 other states in challenging president Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. Officials, including Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha are calling the executive order a violation of the fourteenth amendment of the US Constitution. Trump issued the executive order Monday seeking to end the guarantee that children born in the US are citizens, regardless of their parents’ status. But whether this executive order passes remains in the air, as there’s likely to be a lengthy legal battle. In a statement, Attorney General Neronha said in part: The fourteenth amendment guarantees that no matter your family’s country of origin, if you are born here, this is your home, this is your country. With this executive order, the president seeks to deny citizenship to Americans who would lawfully reside here, pay taxes here, raise their families here and contribute to the extraordinary fabric of this country. Civil rights groups are also filing lawsuits challenging Trump’s order to block birthright citizenship, including the American Civil Liberties Union. Ceclia Wang, the National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union said: He’s fundamentally striking at one of the promises of the American constitution after the Civil War through the 14th Amendment, one of the reconstruction amendments the framers of the constitution made it clear that regardless of your parents nationality, your parents status, everyone born on American soil is a us citizen. Neronha says the lawsuit will work to prevent the president’s order through a temporary restraining order and temporary court order. Neronha also says the order could lead to funding cuts for programs like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and foster care and adoption assistance The White House said it’s ready to face the states in court and called the lawsuits, “nothing more than an extension of the left’s resistance.” The order is supposed to take effect on Tuesday, February 19th. Categories: Massachusetts, News, Rhode Island