A federal judge has imposed a second national injunction on President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at terminating birthright citizenship for individuals born in the US to parents in the country illegally. US District Judge Deborah Boardman emphasised that citizenship is a “most precious right” and noted that no court has supported the Trump administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment, stating, “This court will not be the first.”
She declared that a nationwide policy is necessary to safeguard the rights of affected individuals, including many long-term residents. Judge Boardman’s injunction follows a previous hold on the order due to lawsuits from four states, where another judge labelled the directive “blatantly unconstitutional.”
With 22 states and multiple organisations contesting the executive action, Boardman’s ruling will remain in effect until the case is fully litigated, barring a successful appeal by the Trump administration. The 14th Amendment, ratified post-Civil War, guarantees citizenship to anyone born or naturalised in the US. Trump’s administration has argued that these individuals should not receive citizenship due to their parents’ immigration status. The injunction aligns with ongoing legal challenges and reflects a significant moment in the debate over immigration and citizenship in the US.