On the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that seeks to withhold citizenship from some children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which states that “all persons born” in the United States “are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” has long been interpreted to mean that anyone born in the country is a U.S. citizen, regardless of the status of their parents.
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 27 limited lower courts’ abilities to issue universal injunctions, in which one court blocks a policy from taking effect nationwide. The decision cleared the way for the ban on birthright citizenship to apply to some immigrants in the 28 states that didn’t challenge the order starting on July 27.
On July 10, however, a federal judge in New Hampshire blocked Trump’s executive order from going into effect while the question of its legality moves ahead in court. Judge Joseph LaPlante said he would certify a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all children affected by the executive order and issue a temporary injunction blocking the order from taking effect. The lawsuit aims to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling on nationwide injunctions.
- January 20, 2025: Trump signs executive order ending birthright citizenship
- January 22, 2025: ‘My child will be stateless’: Pregnant women sue Trump administration over the end of birthright citizenship
- January 23, 2025: The 19th Explains: Birthright citizenship and Trump’s order to end it
- June 27, 2025: Trump’s plans to end birthright citizenship could move ahead after Supreme Court ruling
- July 10, 2025: A federal judge blocked Trump’s executive order, certifying a class-action lawsuit
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