Irreparable Harm: Court Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

In a major setback to former US President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, a federal judge has once again blocked his controversial executive order that sought to limit birthright citizenship. The ruling came from a federal court in Concord, New Hampshire, following a class action lawsuit filed by immigration rights advocates.

The lawsuit, brought by organizations such as the ACLU, represents all non-US citizens living across the United States. It argues that the President’s directive could deprive children of US citizenship and cause “irreparable harm” to families living in the country. In his decision, the federal judge emphasized that the harm caused by the loss of citizenship amounts to the loss of “the greatest privilege that exists in the world.”

This ruling sharply contrasts with the US Supreme Court’s June 27 decision, which narrowed the scope of nationwide injunctions and gave the Trump administration greater freedom to enforce executive policies. However, in this case, Judge Laplante stated that issuing an injunction was “not a close call,” making it clear that allowing Trump’s order to take effect would unjustly strip children of their citizenship. “Citizenship alone,” he added, “is a privilege too significant to ignore.”

The injunction also halts the implementation of Trump’s order at the national level, protecting the citizenship status of children born in the United States. The Trump administration has several days to appeal the ruling before it takes full effect, as the judge temporarily stayed the decision to allow time for a response. He also promised to issue a more detailed written opinion by the end of the day.