U.S. federal judge once again blocked President Trump's latest attempt to restrict "birthright citizenship." This time, the judge only partially halted the president's new executive order—following the Supreme Court's rejection earlier this summer of a similar effort by Trump.
The federal district judge, Deborah Boardman, stated that the government cannot enforce the newly issued, narrower policy. However, she allowed government agencies to continue studying how to implement the policy, just not to actually put it into effect at this stage.
In her written ruling, Judge Boardman wrote that, based on the Supreme Court’s decision this summer, the new policy is likely also unconstitutional. Her injunction applies to the groups identified in this case as potentially affected—specifically, all children who would have been denied citizenship under the first executive order.
Attorney General Todd Blanche responded on the same day, saying the government was prepared for this outcome. “We didn’t expect this judge to support us, so this result wasn’t surprising. If necessary, we will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.”
Trump’s latest executive order aims to tighten existing laws and narrow the exceptions to “birthright citizenship.” This principle, established by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, grants automatic U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
In August this year, Trump issued a new directive stating that if both parents are non-citizens and one is classified as an “enemy national,” a foreign government employee, or someone specifically coming to the U.S. for “birth tourism,” then federal agencies would not recognize the child’s citizenship.
Judge Boardman wrote in her opinion: “If this new category is not restricted, this 2026 executive order could very likely strip children—already deemed citizens by the Supreme Court—of their rights.” Judge Boardman was appointed by President Biden.
Meanwhile, another lawsuit challenging this new policy is currently being heard in New Hampshire.
Restricting birthright citizenship has long been a hallmark policy of Trump’s second term. When he returned to the White House last year, he immediately signed an executive order seeking to deny citizenship to infants born to parents who were unlawfully present or holding temporary status in the U.S. However, this summer, the Supreme Court rejected that order, ruling it unconstitutional. In response, Trump released this new version, which now faces a fresh round of legal challenges.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875278478077952/
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