Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Ban, Citing Supreme Court Exception
Written by Okafor Joseph Afam | Published July 11, 2025 | SpringNewsNG
A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for some children born on American soil, citing a legal exception in a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Judge Joseph Laplante of the U.S. District Court in Concord, New Hampshire, ruled Thursday in favor of immigrant rights advocates who filed a class-action lawsuit challenging Trump’s controversial policy. The order, signed on Trump’s first day back in office in January 2025, was set to take effect on July 27, potentially stripping citizenship from U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants and non-permanent residents.
Laplante, a Republican appointee under former President George W. Bush, agreed to provisionally grant class-action status to the case—an important move that allowed him to issue a nationwide injunction despite the Supreme Court’s recent 6-3 decision restricting universal judicial blocks.
That high court decision had limited the ability of lower courts to impose nationwide injunctions but allowed for exceptions in class-action lawsuits. Laplante said the exception was clearly applicable in this case.
“This is not a close call,” the judge stated during the hearing. “Denying a child citizenship at birth is irreparable harm. Citizenship is the greatest privilege in the world.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which led the legal challenge, praised the decision. ACLU attorney Cody Wofsy said the ruling prevents “a lawless, unconstitutional, and cruel executive order” from impacting children across the U.S.
“The Supreme Court ruling created confusion and fear among immigrant families. Today’s ruling restores hope and legal protection for every child at risk,” Wofsy added.
The Trump administration has vowed to appeal the ruling. Justice Department attorneys confirmed they would challenge the injunction within the seven-day pause granted by the court to allow for appeal.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields criticized the decision, calling it “an obvious and unlawful attempt to bypass the Supreme Court’s clear directive.”
“This judge is abusing class-action procedures to block the president’s lawful immigration policy. The administration will fight back strongly against this rogue decision,” Fields stated.
The legal battle now moves to higher courts as the future of automatic birthright citizenship in the U.S. remains uncertain.
