Birthright Citizenship still valid in USA!
New York, US, Jul 10 (EFE).-
A federal judge in New Hampshire has blocked United States President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, which he signed on his second day in office and one of his most controversial policies to date.
“Stripping US citizenship is a sharp departure from long-standing policy and causes irreparable harm,” stated Judge Joseph Laplante during the ruling.
The judge, appointed by President George W. Bush added that “US citizenship is the greatest privilege that exists in the world.”
While the injunction halts implementation of the order, which was set to take effect Jul. 27, Laplante granted a seven-day pause to allow the federal government time to file an appeal.
Order would violate 14th Amendment, says Court
The ruling stems from a class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of plaintiffs led by a Honduran asylum seeker known only as Barbara.
She is expecting her first child in October, a baby who will be born on US soil.
According to the plaintiffs, Trump’s executive order directly violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the US.
Judge Laplante agreed, stating that the order would likely harm “existing and future children” born in the country.
The court, however, did not extend its protection to the parents, as requested by the plaintiffs. Laplante had previously issued a narrower ruling in February, blocking the order only for members of certain organizations.
This new decision broadens the scope, applying nationwide.
Legal and political ramifications
The Trump administration’s plan had gained legal traction after the Supreme Court struck down earlier state-level injunctions, arguing that lower courts lacked authority to issue rulings with federal scope.
That decision was seen as a turning point in the legal challenges to Trump’s policies.
In this latest ruling, Laplante emphasized the need to maintain the constitutional foundation of birthright citizenship.
“The plaintiffs may suffer irreparable damage if the injunction is not granted,” he wrote.
The ACLU welcomed the decision as a critical safeguard.
“The 14th Amendment is not optional. This ruling ensures that constitutional protections apply to all children born in the United States,” the organization said in a statement.
Trump’s executive order, had it gone into effect, would have stripped citizenship from US-born children of undocumented immigrants, a move widely criticized by legal scholars and immigrant rights advocates. EFE fjo/seo/mcd
