A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump’s executive order to restrict birthright citizenship, citing conflicts with the 14th Amendment. The ruling halts enforcement, marking a legal setback for Trump. The decision follows previous court challenges, with immigration advocates celebrating it as a victory for constitutional rights.
A federal judge has blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, halts the policy set to take effect on February 19, arguing that it violates the U.S. Constitution.
District Judge Deborah Boardman ruled that the order contradicts the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. She emphasized that the Supreme Court has long upheld this right and warned that stripping individuals of their citizenship would cause irreparable harm.
“No court has ever accepted the president’s interpretation, and this one will not be the first,” Boardman stated.
The decision follows a similar ruling last month by a Washington state judge, who also found the policy unconstitutional. Trump has vowed to appeal the ruling, maintaining that individuals born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants or those on temporary visas should not automatically receive citizenship.
Opponents argue that Trump's order directly challenges an 1898 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed birthright citizenship applies to children of immigrants. Legal experts say the judge’s decision reinforces long-standing constitutional protections, making it difficult for the policy to move forward.
While the ruling is a setback for Trump’s immigration agenda, the legal battle is expected to continue. Advocacy groups have welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for immigrant families and constitutional rights.
4o
