Can anybody explain to a layman like me why American law (equal protection clause) would apply to foreigners?
In the legal sense there was a court case Yick Wonvs Hopkins that said once an immigrant comes here he is protected under the equal protection laws due to the inhuman way immigrants (Chinese in particular) were treated. In a greater sense many feel (including me) our founders rebel and later founded this country on enlightenment ideals with "the universal rights of man" at the center
Yeah, but those immigrants aren't here yet. I thought that was the problem with the first executive order because it included those already legally in the country. The argument now put forth sounds like anyone essentially has the right to enter the US. If that entry is denied, they can sue on the basis of the 14th amendment, which for some odd reason applies to the entire world now.