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A coalition of Democratic-leaning states launched legal actions Tuesday seeking to block Donald Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship in the United States.

The two separate lawsuits involving a total of 22 states, including California and New York, come the day after Trump took office and quickly unveiled a phalanx of executive orders he hopes will reshape American immigration.

Chief among them was an order eliminating the automatic granting of citizenship to anyone born on US soil, a right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the country’s constitution.

If implemented, the order would prevent the federal government from issuing passports, citizenship certificates or other documents to children whose mothers are in the country illegally or temporarily, and whose father is not a US citizen or permanent resident.

‘The President’s executive order attempting to rescind birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and quite frankly, un-American,’ California Attorney General Rob Bonta said as he announced the suit.

‘We are asking a court to immediately block this order from taking effect and ensure that the rights of American-born children impacted by this order remain in effect while litigation proceeds.

‘The President has overstepped his authority by a mile with this order, and we will hold him accountable.’

The California-led suit, which was filed in federal court in Massachusetts, was joined later Tuesday by one filed in Washington state, and comes alongside a similar suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups in New Hampshire.

The 14th Amendment was adopted in the aftermath of the US Civil War, as part of an effort to ensure the rights of former slaves and their children.

It says, in part: ‘All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.’

Trump’s order, if it stands, will come into effect 30 days from when he signed it.

The president acknowledged as he put pen to paper that it was likely to face legal challenges.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that US federal employees working in diversity offices must be put on paid leave by Wednesday evening as the new administration of Donald Trump has ordered the programmes shut.

‘Send a notification to all employees of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility offices that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately as the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programme,’ said a US Office of Personnel Management memo posted on social media platform X by a CBS correspondent.

The memo from acting OPM director Charles Ezell directed all department and agency heads and acting heads to send workers notice by 5:00pm Wednesday.

‘To every reporter asking about this: I can gladly confirm!’ said Leavitt on X, resharing the post from the CBS journalist.

‘President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI from our federal government and returning America to a merit based society where people are hired based on their skills, not for the colour of their skin,’ Leavitt said in a statement published by NBC News.

‘This is another win for Americans of all races, religions, and creeds. Promises made, promises kept.’

While campaigning, Trump had vilified diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and corporate world, saying they discriminated against white people — men in particular.

He also demonised any recognition of gender diversity, attacking transgender people—notably transgender women in sports — and gender-affirming care for children.

In front of a crowd of supporters in Washington Monday — his first day in office — the Republican wiped out 78 executive orders, actions and presidential memoranda issued by his Democrat predecessor Joe Biden.

Several of the overturned decrees promoted diversity and equality in the government, workplaces and healthcare, as well as the rights of LGBTQ Americans.

He also issued new ones decreeing only two genders and ending government diversity programmes.

‘The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ DEI, into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government,’ said one executive order ending such programmes.

The OPM memo dated Tuesday said DEI programmes ‘divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.’

It ordered all agency heads to cancel DEI trainings, terminate related contractors, and take down websites and social media accounts promoting it by Wednesday evening.