A federal judge in Maryland has stopped President Donald Trump’s order that would end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman ruled that citizenship is a “precious right” protected by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Boardman emphasized that no court has ever accepted the Trump administration’s argument that children of undocumented immigrants are not U.S. citizens. “This court will not be the first,” she stated. She also noted that citizenship laws must be uniform across the country, so a nationwide hold on the order is necessary.
Trump’s executive order was already blocked temporarily by another judge in Washington state. That ruling was set to expire soon, but Boardman’s decision will keep the order on hold until the case is fully resolved or until the Trump administration successfully appeals.
So far, 22 states and several advocacy groups have sued to stop Trump’s order. Many expectant mothers and immigrant rights organizations argue that the order unfairly targets families who have lived in the U.S. for a long time. The lawsuits focus on the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ status.
The Trump administration claims that children of undocumented immigrants should not be considered U.S. citizens because their parents are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. However, the 14th Amendment was originally passed to grant citizenship to former slaves after the Civil War, and legal experts argue that it clearly supports birthright citizenship.
In addition to the 22 states opposing Trump’s order, 18 Republican-led states are supporting the administration’s efforts and have joined a lawsuit in New Hampshire.
The U.S. is one of about 30 countries that grant birthright citizenship, a policy known as “jus soli” or “right of the soil.” Many nations in the Americas, including Canada and Mexico, also follow this rule.
During his first week back in office, Trump signed multiple executive orders on immigration, promising stricter border control and deportations. Some of these actions were immediately enforced, while others are facing legal challenges. The fate of Trump’s immigration policies may depend on funding from Congress or whether he decides to use emergency powers, as he did for the border wall during his first term.
For now, the judge’s ruling means that birthright citizenship remains protected, but further legal battles are expected in the coming weeks.
