In a significant legal development, a federal appeals court has ruled against former President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary immigrants. The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston upheld previous rulings blocking the order, stating that it likely violates the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which grants automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
The court’s decision reinforces the constitutional protection of birthright citizenship, a principle rooted in the 14th Amendment and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in 1898. The Trump administration had argued that children born to parents who are not fully subject to U.S. jurisdiction should not automatically acquire citizenship. However, the court rejected this interpretation, emphasizing the clarity of constitutional protections.
This ruling marks the fifth time a federal court has acted against the birthright order, underscoring the judiciary’s consistent stance on upholding the 14th Amendment. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have lauded the decision, emphasizing its defense of fundamental rights.
The Trump administration has indicated plans to seek a Supreme Court review, which may now consider the case after previously limiting courts’ powers to issue broad injunctions without ruling directly on the policy’s constitutionality. The legal battle continues to highlight the ongoing national debate over immigration and constitutional interpretation, particularly concerning the longstanding precedent affirming birthright citizenship.
