A federal judge has stopped former President Donald Trump’s executive order that tried to take away birthright citizenship for babies born in the United States to non-citizen parents. The judge also allowed the case to move forward as a class-action lawsuit, meaning the ruling could help many families across the country.
What Was Trump’s Executive Order?
In his second term, Trump signed an executive order saying that babies born in the U.S. to parents who are not citizens—including undocumented immigrants or those here on temporary visas—would not automatically get U.S. citizenship. This goes against the long-standing rule based on the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which says anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, no matter who their parents are.
What the Judge Said
Judge Joseph Laplante, who issued the decision in New Hampshire, said the order could cause serious harm, especially to babies who could suddenly be left without a country or citizenship. He also said this is a national issue that affects many people, so the lawsuit should be handled as a class action, which includes all families who may be impacted, not just the one who filed the lawsuit.
He did, however, allow a seven-day pause on his ruling so that the federal government has time to appeal.
Why This Matters
This decision is important because it stops the order from being enforced anywhere in the country — at least for now. It also helps protect families who were afraid their children might lose their citizenship rights.
Many legal experts and civil rights groups, including the ACLU, say that Trump’s order was unconstitutional. They believe the 14th Amendment clearly protects all children born in the U.S., and changing that would take more than just an executive order — it would require changing the Constitution.
What’s Next?
The Biden administration, or possibly Trump’s legal team if he’s re-elected, may appeal this decision. The case could eventually go all the way to the Supreme Court. But for now, families affected by the order are breathing a sigh of relief, knowing their children’s citizenship is safe.
