A third federal judge has blocked an executive order by former President Donald Trump that sought to end birthright citizenship for children of individuals in the U.S. illegally. U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire issued the ruling on Monday, joining two other federal judges in Seattle and Maryland who issued similar decisions last week.
Judge Laplante, who was nominated by former Republican President George W. Bush, stated that he was not persuaded by the Trump administration’s defense of the executive order. He indicated that he would issue a longer preliminary injunction later, providing a detailed explanation of his reasoning.
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The executive order, which has faced significant legal challenges, aimed to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are not citizens or legal residents. The Trump administration argued that such children are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States under the 14th Amendment and therefore should not be granted citizenship.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed one of the lawsuits challenging the order, arguing that it violates the Constitution and undermines a fundamental American value. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of immigrant rights groups, including pregnant women whose children could be affected by the order.
At least nine lawsuits have been filed nationwide to challenge the executive order. In one case in Seattle, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, appointed by former Republican President Ronald Reagan, ruled last week that the Trump administration was attempting to bypass the Constitution. “The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or something ignored, whether that be for political or personal gain,” Coughenour said. “In this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon, which I intend to follow.”
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Similarly, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, appointed by President Joe Biden, blocked the order in a separate case brought by immigrant rights groups and pregnant women. The Trump administration has not yet appealed Boardman’s preliminary injunction.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, appointed by former President Barack Obama, heard arguments last week in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 18 states but has not yet issued a ruling.
Judge Laplante praised both sides for their arguments in the New Hampshire case, stating, “I’m not persuaded by the defendants’ arguments on this motion. I have to say: I’m not offended by them, either, as a lawyer or a jurist. I think the rule of law is best served, best maintained, and preserved when excellent practitioners present their arguments to the court with all the experience, expertise, and knowledge they can muster.”
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