In a major legal setback to President Donald Trump, a federal judge in New Hampshire has imposed a nationwide block on his controversial executive order aimed at birthright citizenship in the United States.
⚖️ What Did the Court Decide ?
In a landmark ruling, US District Judge Joseph LaPlante has said the Trump administration cannot enforce its recent directive that denies citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented immigrants or those who came on temporary visas.
The judge called the order “potentially unconstitutional and deeply harmful.”
The decision follows a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of all the children who would be affected by the directive.
By certifying the case as a class action lawsuit, the judge ensured that the ruling would have nationwide implications, even in light of the Supreme Court’s recent restrictions on broad federal injunctions.
“Citizenship is not a gift from the President. It’s a constitutional right,” Judge Laplante emphasized in his decision.
What Was Trump’s Executive Order ?
Last month, Trump signed an executive order aimed at changing the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which currently grants automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
His new approach seeks to limit the meaning of the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction.”
Under this new rule, children born in the US to non-citizen parents will no longer automatically receive citizenship. Critics argue that the move is a strategic move to woo far-right immigration hardliners ahead of the 2026 elections.
👶 Who Would Be Affected ?
If the order goes into effect, more than 150,000 children each year born to undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers and even some visa holders would lose their right to U.S. citizenship.
These children may face the following problems:
– No Social Security number
– No U.S. passport
– Limited access to public education and healthcare
– A constant fear of deportation
Immigration advocates have argued that the policy would lead to stateless children, causing generations of harm.
What happens next?
The court has put a temporary stay on the order, giving Trump’s legal team a week to appeal the decision.
Legal experts anticipate the administration will file an emergency appeal in the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and there’s also a possibility they could take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court this fall.
Although we won’t see a final decision before October 2025, the judge’s ruling is currently being seen as a strong defense of the constitutional rights of children born on American soil.
What People Are Saying 🤔
The ACLU has hailed the ruling as a “win for American values.”
On the other hand, conservative lawmakers are calling it a “temporary setback” and are determined to keep fighting.
For now, immigration families across the U.S. are letting out a sigh of relief.
Why This Matters
This case goes beyond just immigration—it also touches on constitutional rights, the limits of presidential power, and what it means to be an American in the future.
This decision could set an important precedent for how future presidents interpret the 14th Amendment and the limits of executive power.
As this legal drama unfolds, all eyes are on the courts, as the future of millions of children born in the US hangs in the balance.
