play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

Background

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – A federal judge in New Hampshire on Thursday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled from the bench after a one-hour hearing, certifying a class action and declaring that the plaintiffs–children born to immigrants in the U.S. since February 20–are likely to succeed in their constitutional challenge. The order is paused for seven days to allow the government to appeal to the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“That’s irreparable harm–citizenship alone,” Laplante said in court. “It is the greatest privilege that exists in the world.” A written order will follow, the judge added.

Trump’s controversial executive order, signed on Inauguration Day of his second term, would deny U.S. citizenship to any child born to parents who are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. The administration argues that the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause was never intended to apply to children of illegal immigrants or temporary visitors.

However, the plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal advocates, assert that the order violates the Constitution. “The framers of the Fourteenth Amendment specifically enshrined this principle in our Constitution’s text to ensure that no one-not even the President-could deny children born in America their rightful place as citizens,” said Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

The lawsuit, Barbara v. Donald J. Trump, was filed on behalf of several immigrant parents and their children. It followed immediately after a recent Supreme Court ruling, Garcia v. United States, which limited the authority of district judges to issue nationwide injunctions. In that 6-3 decision, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that class action lawsuits should be the preferred method for securing universal relief in such disputes.

The Court’s decision did not rule on the constitutionality of Trump’s order but paused its enforcement for 30 days, pushing its effective date into late July. The justices emphasized that while district judges can no longer issue broad injunctions, states and class actions can still seek wider remedies.

Trump, defending the order in public comments, has said that birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants creates “a perverse incentive” that undermines national sovereignty. Government attorneys argued that the 14th Amendment was ratified to secure the rights of formerly enslaved African Americans and was never intended to provide a citizenship pathway for those circumventing immigration law.

The landmark 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark remains central to the dispute. In that case, the justices ruled that anyone born on U.S. soil–regardless of parental status–is a citizen under the 14th Amendment.

With litigation ongoing, Thursday’s ruling will prevent the Trump administration from enforcing the executive order for the foreseeable future. As the case proceeds, it may set the stage for a landmark constitutional showdown over the meaning and scope of birthright citizenship in the modern immigration era.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Suspected Islamist Gunman Kills ROTC Instructor At Virginia University
Suspected Islamist Gunman Kills ROTC Instructor At Virginia University
Friday, March 13, 2026

Investigations continued Friday after a suspected Islamist gunman opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University in the U.S. state of Virginia on Thursday, killing a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instructor and wounding two others before he was subdued by students and died, officials said.

US Refueling Aircraft Crash Kills Six Crew Members Over Iraq As Iran Strikes Intensify
US Refueling Aircraft Crash Kills Six Crew Members Over Iraq As Iran Strikes Intensify
Friday, March 13, 2026

All six crew members aboard a U.S. refueling aircraft have died after the plane crashed over western Iraq, the U.S. military confirmed Friday, as fighting between the United States, Israel, and Iran continued to intensify.

Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Likely Disfigured,’ Hiding Underground After War Strikes
Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Likely Disfigured,’ Hiding Underground After War Strikes
Friday, March 13, 2026

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader is likely wounded, disfigured, and hiding underground as the Islamic Republic reels from the opening blows of the war with the United States and Israel.

Bible Sales Surge In Britain As Young Generation Rediscovers Faith
Bible Sales Surge In Britain As Young Generation Rediscovers Faith
Friday, March 13, 2026

Bible sales in Britain have surged to their highest levels since records began, reflecting a growing spiritual interest across the nation—particularly among younger generations.

Damaged Russian Gas Tanker Drifts In Mediterranean As Hungary-Ukraine Energy Tensions Rise
Damaged Russian Gas Tanker Drifts In Mediterranean As Hungary-Ukraine Energy Tensions Rise
Thursday, March 12, 2026

A damaged Russian gas tanker is drifting unmanned through the Mediterranean Sea, prompting Malta to prepare emergency measures while tensions linked to the war in Ukraine spill into Europe’s energy and security landscape.

Iran Launches Drone, Missile Attacks Across Gulf As Oil Prices Surge
Iran Launches Drone, Missile Attacks Across Gulf As Oil Prices Surge
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Iran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Gulf countries Thursday, the 13th day of the United States-Israel war against Tehran, with strikes reported in Bahrain and other states, sending oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns among foreign workers, including Christians.

25,000 Christians Face Eviction In Pakistan’s Capital As Father Reported Missing
25,000 Christians Face Eviction In Pakistan’s Capital As Father Reported Missing
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Nearly 25,000 Christians, many of them impoverished sanitation workers and day laborers, face possible eviction from their homes in Pakistan’s capital after authorities ordered them to vacate two settlements within days, Christians familiar with the situation confirmed Thursday.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT