A U.S. federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction temporarily blocking the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order that would deny citizenship to certain babies born in the United States.
The ruling was handed down by Judge Joseph Laplante of the U.S. District Court in New Hampshire during a hearing on Thursday.
The case, brought by immigrant rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, seeks to protect all affected children by certifying the legal action as a class action lawsuit. That designation enabled the judge to extend the injunction across the country.
President Trump’s controversial executive order, signed on January 20, 2025—his first day back in office—seeks to limit birthright citizenship by excluding children born to undocumented immigrants or non-permanent residents.
This order is set to take effect on July 27, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that significantly narrowed the scope of nationwide injunctions.
However, Judge Laplante ruled that the nature of the potential harm warranted immediate judicial intervention.
“This is not a close call,” the judge said during the hearing. “To be stripped of the right to citizenship is irreparable harm. Citizenship is the greatest privilege that exists in the world.”
While the Supreme Court had recently limited the ability of federal judges to issue sweeping nationwide orders, it carved out a key exception: class action lawsuits could still justify such relief.
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Judge Laplante, a George W. Bush appointee, said that exception applies here and emphasized the urgent need to prevent chaos for potentially thousands of children and families.
The ACLU’s attorney, Cody Wofsy, welcomed the ruling. “This decision ensures that every single child in this country is shielded from a lawless, unconstitutional, and cruel order,” he said.
“Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, there has been confusion, fear, and panic in immigrant communities. Today’s judgment brings clarity and protection.”
The Department of Justice, represented at the hearing, said it would appeal immediately, and Laplante gave the administration seven days to do so before the injunction takes effect.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields criticized the ruling, calling it “an obvious and unlawful attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s clear order against universal relief.”
The birthright citizenship issue has long been a lightning rod in American politics. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to all individuals born on U.S. soil.
Trump’s executive order directly challenges that interpretation, marking one of the boldest efforts yet to reshape the foundations of American immigration law.
This ruling, while temporary, represents a major legal barrier to Trump’s immigration agenda and sets the stage for a broader constitutional fight in the months ahead.
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