A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship in the United States. The ruling, issued by District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, stated that the order directly conflicts with the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The decision marks a major legal setback for Trump’s immigration policies, which have been a central focus of his second term.
Judge Boardman sided with five women who challenged the order, arguing that it would cause “irreparable harm” to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. She emphasized that citizenship is a fundamental right and that denying it would create instability for affected families. “It has been said the right to U.S. citizenship is a right no less precious than life or liberty,” she stated in her ruling.
The judge also pointed out that the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected interpretations of the 14th Amendment that would allow restrictions on birthright citizenship. “In fact, no court has endorsed the president’s interpretation, and this court will not be the first,” she added. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Joseph Mead, described the order as a drastic and unjustified break from more than a century of established law.
Trump’s administration, backed by the Department of Justice, argued that birthright citizenship should not apply to children of undocumented immigrants, claiming the Constitution does not support what they called a “windfall clause” for those who circumvent immigration laws. However, Judge Boardman’s ruling isn’t the only legal challenge the order has faced—another federal judge in Seattle had already placed the order on hold before this latest decision.
With the ruling now in place, Trump’s efforts to challenge birthright citizenship will likely face further legal battles. The issue is expected to make its way through the courts, but for now, the constitutional guarantee of citizenship for those born on U.S. soil remains intact.
