A federal judge in New Hampshire has issued a nationwide injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders. The ruling came after immigrant rights groups and families filed a class-action lawsuit, arguing that the order violated the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil regardless of parental immigration status.
Judge Joseph Laplante, who presided over the case, certified the lawsuit as a class action representing all infants at risk of losing citizenship under the executive order. He described the threat of denying citizenship as “irreparable harm,” emphasizing the fundamental nature of citizenship rights. The injunction prevents the Trump administration from enforcing the policy, which was set to take effect at the end of July, and allows one week for the government to appeal the decision.
The Trump administration has argued that the Fourteenth Amendment does not apply to children born to parents who are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. Critics, including constitutional scholars and civil rights groups, contend that the amendment’s language and longstanding Supreme Court precedent clearly protect birthright citizenship for nearly all children born in the country.
The White House has condemned the judge’s ruling, calling it an overreach and vowing to challenge the decision in higher courts. Meanwhile, immigrant advocacy organizations and state officials in several states have welcomed the injunction, viewing it as a crucial defense of constitutional rights and a check on executive authority.
The legal fight is expected to continue, with appeals anticipated and further hearings likely as the courts address the boundaries of presidential power and the constitutional guarantee of citizenship.
