Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order
A federal judge in New Hampshire has put a stop to President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship. The ruling was made on Thursday, and it also granted national class certification status to infants impacted by the order.
US District Judge Joseph Laplante indicated that a detailed written ruling would be provided later in the day. He specified that the class would now focus solely on infants, removing parents from the case altogether.
In his decision, Laplante stated that citizenship rights were being revoked in violation of the 14th Amendment, and he warned that the changes could lead to “irreparable damage.”
It seems quite likely that the Trump administration will respond with a lawsuit soon. The Supreme Court had previously reviewed this matter and ruled 6-3 in June, stating that plaintiffs seeking national relief need to file their claims as a class action.
This ruling from the high court mainly addressed the authority of lower courts, without explicitly determining whether the executive order was lawful. The implications of that order served as the foundation for the case.
Moreover, officials from the Justice Department told a federal judge last week that they plan to initiate enforcement of Trump’s birthright citizenship order around July 27, taking advantage of a 30-day stay included in the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Trump’s order, which he signed on the first day of his second term, instructs all U.S. government agencies not to issue citizenship documents for children born to undocumented immigrants.
After being signed, the order faced immediate challenges from over 22 states and immigration rights groups in January.
Initially blocked by a lower court, the case eventually reached the Supreme Court for consideration in May.
The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked a wave of new actions from organizations like the ACLU, which have re-filed class actions in federal courts located in Maryland and New Hampshire.
Last week, attorneys representing the Trump administration emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling did not prevent further actions and announced plans to rapidly develop and publish guidance on the order.
Advocates are expressing serious concerns about the potential negative effects of this order, warning that it could lead to “devastating” consequences.
