A third federal judge has temporarily blocked United States President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante of New Hampshire issued the ruling, following similar decisions by judges in Washington and Maryland.
The executive order aims to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.
Critics argue that Trump has overstepped his authority with the order, which withholds citizenship from American-born children of illegal immigrants.
The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January, states: “Birthright citizenship embodies America’s most fundamental promise: that all children born on United States soil begin life as full and equal members of the country’s national community, irrespective of their parents’ origins, circumstances or status.”
The Union has asked the court to “declare that [Trump’s] Executive Order is unconstitutional and unlawful in its entirety.”
In his ruling today, Laplante stated: “After careful consideration of the parties’ submissions, the supporting declarations, the applicable law, and the filings and record in this case, the court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction.”
In his ruling, Laplante granted a preliminary injunction, stating that the plaintiffs have a strong likelihood of success in their case. He also emphasized that blocking the order serves the public interest.
He added, “the court hereby finds that Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims,” adding that “the issuance of this order is in the public interest.”
