It's April 1. For those who park their cars on the street, a quick reminder that street sweeping resumes today in most Boston neighborhoods, as well as neighboring cities like Cambridge, Somerville and Medford. And those tickets are no joke. Now to the news: On the docket: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today in the high-profile case over President Trump's executive order to roll back birthright citizenship, as part of his administration's immigration crackdown. Trump's order last January, which has since been blocked by lower courts, directed federal agencies not to issue citizenship to newborns in certain cases in which neither parent has either legal or permanent residency. The case before the justices today started in New Hampshire, where a federal judge ruled the order “likely violates” both the Constitution and federal law. More fundamentally, Adriana Lafaille, a lawyer with the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU involved with that lawsuit, told WBUR's Paul Connearney that Trump's order seeks to "redefine who is entitled to call themselves an American." - The impact for Massachusetts residents: Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office says "thousands" of babies born each year would no longer be granted citizenship if the Supreme Court allows Trump's order to stand. Her office cites a report last year by the National Demographics Corporation that estimated 4,200 babies were born in Massachusetts in 2022 to two parents who were noncitizens and lacked legal status. (Nationally, that number was 153,000, the group estimated.) Without citizenship, Campbell's office said those children would grow up under the constant threat of deportation and be denied eligibility to legally work, vote and access certain federal programs and services.
- The impact on local government: In an amicus brief filed in February, Campbell and other Democratic attorneys general said state governments would also take a financial hit if the order is upheld. For example, federal funding for state-administered programs like Medicaid, foster care and adoption assistance is based on the number of citizens in a state. And states would have to overhaul their programs to account for the change, at a "considerable expense," they said.
- Zoom out: While it's been the law in the U.S. for over a century, just over 30 other countries around the world have automatic birthright citizenship. And a handful have done away with it in recent decades. As NPR reports, the concept is rooted in colonialism in many parts of the world — though it became part of the U.S. Constitution in 1868 as part of the effort to protect recently freed slaves.
- Go deeper: NPR reports that an end to birthright citizenship would require new bureaucratic processes at hospitals and public schools. You can also read NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg's full preview of today's arguments here.
- Tune in: WBUR will air special live coverage of oral arguments when they begin at 10 a.m. You can also listen live on our website.
In other SCOTUS news: Massachusetts officials are pledging to uphold the state's ban on conversion therapy, despite yesterday's Supreme Court ruling against a similar law in Colorado. In an 8-1 decision, the court said Colorado's ban on conversation therapy for minors illegally "regulates speech based on viewpoint." Massachusetts' law, signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2019, similarly prohibits licensed health care providers from advertising or engaging in "sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts" to minors. - What's next: According to Campbell's office, the Supreme Court ruling sends the case back to a lower court to make a decision on the future of Colorado’s law and doesn't affect the laws of the 25 other states, like Massachusetts, with conversion therapy bans. But it does crack open the door to potential legal challenges against the laws in those states. "We are reviewing the Court’s decision, and I will continue using every tool available to stand firmly against any attempt to legitimize practices that put our young people at risk," Campbell said.
On Beacon Hill: Andrew "Dru" Tarr will be the next state representative for the 5th Essex District. The Gloucester Democrat won the special election yesterday for the Cape Ann seat left vacant when state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante died last fall. - Unofficial results show that Tarr won with nearly 64% of the vote over Republican Christina Delisio. The district includes Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. (Tarr, who worked as Ferrante's legislative aid for nine years, has no relation to fellow Gloucestrian state Sen. Bruce Tarr.)
WARN-ing: Clover Food Lab says it could shut down this spring. The vegetarian fast food chain filed a notice with the state that it could lay off all 182 of its employees in late May if it doesn't find a buyer. The disclosure comes two years after the Cambridge-based company exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to expand. - What they're saying: In a statement, a Clover spokesperson told WBUR that the company is just complying with state law to file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act report "in the case that we do not finalize a deal" and remains "optimistic" about its future. But they did not identify a potential buyer.
P.S.— We're just hours away from the launch of Artemis II, NASA's first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years. (The four-astronaut capsule won't land on the moon, but they will orbit it.) You can watch the launch here. |
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