Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order
A federal judge has issued an indefinite injunction against President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to redefine birthright citizenship as outlined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The controversial order, which Trump signed on the first day of his second term, sought to exclude children born to noncitizen parents from automatically receiving U.S. citizenship. However, this interpretation directly contradicts over 125 years of Supreme Court precedent.
Trump’s executive order hinged on redefining the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment, arguing that it does not apply to children of noncitizen parents. Legal experts and civil rights organizations immediately challenged this move, filing lawsuits to block its implementation. The case was heard in a federal court in Maryland, where plaintiffs—including five pregnant women whose children would be affected by the order—argued that the president’s action was an unprecedented and unconstitutional departure from settled law.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman initially issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the order. In a ruling this week, she extended that injunction indefinitely, stating that “no court in the country has ever endorsed the president’s interpretation” of the 14th Amendment. She emphasized that Supreme Court rulings dating back to 1898, particularly in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, had firmly established that birthright citizenship applies to nearly all children born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The Justice Department, which defended Trump’s order in court, failed to provide any legal precedent supporting the president’s reinterpretation.
Boardman’s ruling ensures that, for now, birthright citizenship remains intact as it has been for generations. However, the Justice Department is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Given Trump’s ongoing hardline stance on immigration, legal experts anticipate a prolonged legal battle over the issue.
The ruling was met with relief from immigrant advocacy groups, who viewed it as a crucial victory in protecting constitutional rights. George Escobar, a representative from CASA, one of the organizations involved in the lawsuit, praised the decision, stating that immigrant families could now “breathe easier knowing that their children’s rights are protected.” As the case moves through the courts, the fight over birthright citizenship is likely to remain a major legal and political issue in the years ahead.