A third federal judge has temporarily halted former U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante of New Hampshire issued the ruling on Monday, joining federal judges in Washington and Maryland who previously blocked the order.
Trump’s directive aims to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” The executive order seeks to exclude children born on U.S. soil to undocumented immigrants from automatic citizenship.
Critics argue that Trump has overstepped his constitutional authority. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January, asserting that birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of American values.
“Birthright citizenship embodies America’s most fundamental promise: that all children born on United States soil begin life as full and equal members of the country’s national community, irrespective of their parents’ origins, circumstances, or status,” the lawsuit states.
In his ruling, Judge Laplante granted a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking the order. “The court hereby finds that Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims,” he wrote, adding that the decision serves the public interest.
With multiple legal challenges underway, the fate of Trump’s executive order remains uncertain as the case moves through the courts.
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