A third federal judge has issued a temporary block on President Donald Trump's executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire made this ruling, joining judges in Washington state and Maryland who had previously done the same.
Trump's executive order sought to clarify the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. The order would have withheld citizenship from American-born children of illegal immigrants, a move criticized by opponents who argue that Trump overstepped his authority.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order on the grounds that birthright citizenship is a fundamental promise of America, ensuring that all children born on U.S. soil are equal members of the national community regardless of their parents' status. The lawsuit requested the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire to declare the order unconstitutional.
In his ruling, Judge Laplante granted a preliminary injunction, stating that the plaintiffs had shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims and would suffer irreparable harm without the injunction. He deemed the issuance of the order to be in the public interest.
Similar sentiments were echoed by judges in Maryland and Washington. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland emphasized the precious nature of citizenship granted by the Fourteenth Amendment, while U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Washington asserted that the president cannot alter constitutional rights through an executive order.
Judge Coughenour criticized the Trump administration for disregarding the rule of law in pursuit of policy goals, emphasizing the importance of upholding constitutional principles. The administration is appealing the ruling in Washington.
These consecutive judicial blocks highlight the ongoing legal battle over the executive order and the broader implications for the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the United States.
