Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Ban

Why this matters: This ruling has significant implications for the legal precedent of birthright citizenship in the U.S. and affects families of immigrants nationwide.

A federal judge in New Hampshire has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship, granting a nationwide class certification to infants affected by the order. The decision comes after the Supreme Court reviewed the case earlier in the year and ruled that plaintiffs seeking nationwide relief must file as a class action lawsuit.

The judge, Joseph LaPlante, stated that denying citizenship as outlined in the 14th Amendment would cause "irreparable harm." The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision.

This executive order, signed on the first day of Trump’s second term, instructed government agencies to deny citizenship documents to children born to undocumented immigrants or those without a parent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The order was challenged by multiple states and immigrant rights groups, who argued it was unconstitutional and threatened over 100 years of legal precedent. Advocates warned that the order could have "catastrophic" fallout.

The order directs U.S. government agencies to refuse citizenship documents to children born to illegal immigrants or those who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen of lawful permanent resident.

A federal judge blocked the order, stating that deprivation of citizenship, as held by the 14th Amendment, would create “irreparable harm.”

The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling. Advocates and legal groups are also preparing for further legal challenges to ensure the executive order never takes effect.

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