Third Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

A third federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

According to Fox News, the ruling from U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire follows similar rulings from judges in Washington state and Maryland.

This development is the latest in a series of legal challenges to Trump’s hard line immigration policies.

The order, signed by Trump on his first day back in office, directed U.S. agencies to refuse citizenship to children born in the United States if neither parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Judges have been swift in their condemnation of the order, with Seattle-based U.S. District Judge John Coughenour calling it “blatantly unconstitutional”.

Coughenour also accused Trump of ignoring the rule of law for political gain, stating that “it has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals”.

The Justice Department has vowed to appeal the rulings, with a spokesperson saying they will “vigorously defend” Trump’s order.

However, opponents of the order, including Democratic state attorneys general and immigrant rights advocates, argue that it violates the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the United States.

As the legal battle continues, the fate of thousands of children born to undocumented immigrants hangs in the balance. According to Democratic state attorneys general, more than 150,000 newborn children would be denied citizenship annually if Trump’s order is allowed to stand.