A U.S. federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, delivering another legal setback to his immigration agenda.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a preliminary injunction against the August 6 executive order, which sought to deny automatic citizenship to some children born in the United States.
Trump’s latest order targets children whose parents fall into specific categories, including certain foreign-government employees, people classified as “alien enemies,” and parents accused of engaging in so-called birth tourism.
The administration had also been considering requiring parents to provide proof of their own citizenship or immigration status when applying for U.S. passports for their children.
Boardman ruled that the order was likely unconstitutional, citing longstanding Supreme Court precedent that guarantees citizenship to children born on U.S. soil, subject to limited exceptions.
The ruling will remain in effect while a class-action lawsuit brought by immigrant families and advocacy groups proceeds, with the Trump administration expected to challenge the decision on appeal.
