In a recent development, a third federal judge has issued a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to put an end to birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire has issued a ruling that aligns with previous rulings from judges in Washington and Maryland.
Trump’s executive order aims to provide clarification on the 14th Amendment, which states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
President Trump’s order effectively denies citizenship to children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants. Detractors argue that Trump’s action goes beyond his constitutional authority.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on the day of Trump’s inauguration, stating that birthright citizenship represents America’s core promise. It ensures that all children born on U.S. soil are recognized as full and equal members of the national community, regardless of their parents’ origins, status, or circumstances. This principle has allowed generations of children to pursue their dreams and contribute to a stronger America.
The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire requests a declaration that the Executive Order is unconstitutional and unlawful in its entirety.
“After careful consideration of the parties’ submissions, the supporting declarations, the applicable law, and the filings and record in this case, the court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction,” Laplante, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, wrote in his ruling.
“The court hereby finds that Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims; that Plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm if the order is not granted; that the potential harm to the Plaintiffs if the order is not granted outweighs the potential harm to Defendants if the order is granted; and that the issuance of this order is in the public interest,” he added.
In her recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman of Maryland, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, emphasized the significance of citizenship as a fundamental right explicitly granted by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, firmly stated that the Constitutional right cannot be altered, restricted, or modified by the president through an executive order.
“It has become ever more apparent that, to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain,” Coughenour added while announcing his ruling from a Seattle courtroom.
The Trump administration is currently appealing Coughenour’s ruling.