A US federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a new order that seeks to limit birthright citizenship. The ruling deals another setback to President Donald Trump’s efforts to change citizenship rules.
US District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday. She acted after immigrant rights groups challenged Trump’s August 6 executive order.
Boardman said the US Supreme Court had already addressed the issue. In her 35-page ruling, she wrote that the order was “almost certainly unconstitutional.”
Judge Rejects Trump’s Latest Citizenship Order
Trump’s latest order targets what his administration calls “birth tourism.” It seeks to deny automatic citizenship to some children born in the United States.
The administration argues that some people enter the country under the pretext of tourism. It claims they actually intend to give birth in the United States.
Trump first targeted birthright citizenship with an earlier executive order. That order sought to deny citizenship to children born to parents who entered the country illegally or hold temporary visas.
Several lower courts blocked the earlier order. The courts cited the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, which generally grants US citizenship to people born on American soil.
The US Supreme Court also rejected the administration’s previous effort. Boardman cited that decision when she issued Wednesday’s injunction.
Immigrant Rights Groups Welcome Ruling
Immigrant rights organizations welcomed the judge’s decision. They said the latest ruling represents another legal defeat for the Trump administration.
The groups have repeatedly challenged efforts to restrict birthright citizenship. They argue that the Constitution protects the right for almost everyone born in the United States.
The latest court battle could continue as the administration appeals the decision. The ruling means officials cannot enforce the challenged provisions while the legal fight moves forward.
Trump Continues Immigration Crackdown
The birthright citizenship dispute forms part of Trump’s broader immigration campaign. His administration has pursued policies aimed at removing undocumented migrants from the country.
The administration has also moved to end deportation protections for nationals from more than a dozen countries. Trump has made tighter immigration controls a central part of his presidency.
Wednesday’s ruling adds another legal challenge to those efforts. The future of the administration’s birthright citizenship policy will now depend on further court proceedings.
