BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey announced Tuesday a budget proposal to fund billions of dollars worth of capital projects on Massachusetts state college campuses. The Bright Act would mark the first time in decades such broad funding would target higher education.
So, it’s a big deal.
But the announcement was overshadowed to some extent by President Donald Trump’s multiple executive orders on immigration, issued shortly after his inauguration Monday. Those orders include declaration of a national emergency at the border, halting refugee admissions to the U.S. and ending birthright citizenship for expectant mothers not partnered with a legal, permanent U.S. citizen.
“The Golden Age of America begins right now,” Trump said. “We have a government that’s given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders, but refused to defend American borders.”
The President is also threatening to withhold aid to so-called sanctuary cities, which provide undocumented migrants protection from deportation.
Massachusetts has eight declared sanctuary cities, including Boston, Cambridge and Somerville. The state is also in the midst of a migrant crisis -- with thousands of refugees fleeing to Massachusetts because it is the only state with a ‘right to shelter’ law.
In recent weeks, Healey and state Republicans have called for reform of the Right to Shelter law -- which was originally adopted 40 years ago as a safety net for Massachusetts residents who suddenly became homeless -- particularly families with children and pregnant women.
Healey said she’s not going to engage in ‘hypotheticals’ regarding President Trump’s executive orders.
“We will have to review whatever comes our way,” she said.
One provision that has been reviewed -- and will now be litigated: the proposed end to birthright citizenship as enshrined in the 14th Amendment.
“Birthright citizenship is something that is in the constitution,” Healey said. “If you’re born here, you’re a U.S. citizen.”
But, like the state’s Right to Shelter law, the ‘citizenship clause’ targeted not migrants from other countries -- but the children of slaves. Before the Civil War, the Dred Scott decision denied those offspring citizenship.
Attorneys General quickly pounced on the President’s plan to deny birthright citizenship. Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday over the executive order. She was joined by at least 20 other state AGs.
“My colleagues and I will work tirelessly to fight to not only protect the Constitution but to thwart any order to overturn it,” said Campbell. “And this sham executive order is absolutely unlawful. Full stop.”
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