Judge Blocks Trump’s Bid to End Birthright Citizenship

Federal court ruling revives a legal fight over citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

A federal judge has once again blocked **President Donald Trump’s** attempt to end birthright citizenship, reigniting a fierce legal battle over the constitutional rights of children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents.

Judge Issues Nationwide Block

District Judge **Joseph Laplante** agreed to issue a new nationwide block against **President Donald Trump’s** executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The judge granted a request from immigration rights attorneys to certify a nationwide class that “will be comprised only of those deprived of citizenship.”

The preliminary injunction indefinitely blocks **Trump’s** Day One order from being enforced against any baby born after February 20.

Supreme Court Precedent

The Supreme Court previously limited lower court judges’ power to issue nationwide injunctions, but left intact the ability of plaintiffs to seek widespread blocks through class action lawsuits.

According to the Pew Research Center, about 300,000 “anchor babies” are born in the U.S. every year, raising complex legal and ethical questions (Pew Research Center 2024).

Legal Reasoning

“The preliminary injunction is just not a close call to the court,” **Laplante** stated during a hearing, emphasizing that “The deprivation of US citizenship and an abrupt change of policy that was longstanding … that’s irreparable harm.” He added that U.S. citizenship “is the greatest privilege that exists in the world.”

**Laplante**, an appointee of former President **George W. Bush**, will pause his order for several days to allow the **Trump** administration time to appeal.

White House Responds

The White House condemned the ruling as “an obvious and unlawful attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s clear order against universal relief.”

**Harrison Fields**, White House spokesman, asserted that “This judge’s decision disregards the rule of law by abusing class action certification procedures. The **Trump** Administration will be fighting vigorously against the attempts of these rogue district court judges to impede the policies **President Trump** was elected to implement.”

ACLU Reaction

**Cody Wofsy**, an ACLU attorney, hailed the judge’s decision as “a huge victory and will help protect the citizenship of all children born in the United States, as the Constitution intended.”

Supreme Court Rulings

**Justice Amy Coney Barrett** suggested the kind of class-action litigation immigrant rights groups are now pursuing have many advantages.

**Justice Brett Kavanaugh** seemed especially open to having the Supreme Court review, on an emergency basis, exactly the kind of order **Laplante** issued. “Today’s decision on district court injunctions will not affect this court’s vitally important responsibility to resolve applications for stays or injunctions with respect to major new federal statutes and executive actions,” **Kavanaugh** wrote.

Justices **Samuel Alito** and **Clarence Thomas** warned against courts using class-action litigation to essentially supplant the kind of nationwide injunction the court had just shot down.

It remains uncertain whether **Laplante’s** decision is an “abuse” or exactly what the Supreme Court had in mind, but the issue will likely return before the justices soon.