Trump’s Birthright Order Blocked by Federal Judge
A federal judge in New Hampshire has issued a class-wide injunction blocking former President Donald Trump’s latest immigration order, which sought to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary-status parents.
The ruling, issued Wednesday, July 10, by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, temporarily halts the enforcement of Executive Order 14160. The order, signed by Trump in January, attempted to reinterpret the 14th Amendment and deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent was a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Nationwide Protection Through Class Certification
In a direct response to a recent Supreme Court decision that limited courts from issuing broad nationwide injunctions, Judge Laplante certified a nationwide class of all children potentially affected. This move allows the injunction to apply broadly—despite the high court’s new constraints.
“This is not a blanket ruling,” Laplante wrote. “This class certification ensures that the plaintiffs before the court represent the broad population facing real harm under the executive order.”
The injunction will be temporarily paused for seven days, giving the Department of Justice time to appeal the decision.
Legal Strategy Shifts After Supreme Court Ruling
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that lower courts can no longer issue nationwide injunctions for individuals not listed as plaintiffs in a case. But Laplante’s ruling skirts that restriction by granting class-action status—a creative workaround other judges may soon follow.
Civil rights advocates, including the ACLU, praised the decision as a necessary check on executive power. “Birthright citizenship is a constitutional guarantee,” said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “This ruling reinforces that no president can undo that with the stroke of a pen.”
Appeals and Final Decisions Still Ahead
The ruling sets up yet another legal fight between the Trump campaign and the federal court system. The Justice Department is expected to file an appeal within the coming week. Meanwhile, other courts in Maryland, Washington state, and Massachusetts have also blocked similar enforcement efforts.
Trump’s campaign has vowed to continue pushing the issue, making immigration central to his 2025 re-election messaging.
