A federal judge in New Hampshire has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States. This order, announced in January 2025, was set to take effect on July 27.
Under Trump’s directive, children born in the US would not be granted citizenship unless at least one parent is a US citizen or legal resident. Critics, including immigrant rights groups, argue this directly violates the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil.
Judge Joseph Laplante ruled that the policy could lead to “irreparable harm” by denying newborns a right guaranteed by the Constitution. He described the issue as not even a “close call.” He called citizenship “the greatest privilege in the world.”
The judge also allowed the case to proceed as a class action, meaning his order to block the policy now applies to families across the country — not just those directly involved in the lawsuit. This move came despite the Supreme Court’s recent efforts to limit broad nationwide injunctions. However, the court left room for class actions like this.
Laplante gave the Trump administration seven days to appeal the ruling. A written version of his full decision is expected soon. Immigrant rights groups, backed by the ACLU, urged the court to act quickly, saying the order could harm over 150,000 babies each year if allowed to go forward.
The Department of Justice has not yet issued a statement. Meanwhile, the legal debate continues over how far executive powers can go in rewriting rules tied to constitutional rights.