A judge blocks Trump’s new bid to curb birthright citizenship, citing Supreme Court precedent

A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump's latest effort to restrict birthright citizenship, issuing a preliminary injunction against an executive order that aimed to target "birth tourism." U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman in Maryland ruled on Wednesday that the order would be put on hold until a class-action lawsuit filed by immigrant families and advocacy groups is decided.

According to Boardman, the Supreme Court has already established that "children in the certified class are 'citizens at birth.'" Birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment since 1868, applies to anyone born on U.S. soil, with specific exceptions. Trump had previously attempted to end birthright citizenship with an executive order that excluded children born to individuals in the country illegally or temporarily.

However, the Supreme Court overturned that attempt in June. In August, Trump issued a narrowed order that seemed to limit automatic citizenship for specific groups, including those born to adults with ties to foreign embassies, organizations, or designated "alien enemies." The order defined birth tourism as someone who arrives in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa specifically for the purpose of giving birth on American soil.

Birth tourism is already deemed fraud and grounds to restrict a visa if someone seeks citizenship for a child through such means. Some families expressed concern that their children could be denied American citizenship simply for purchasing airfare to travel to the U.S. and becoming pregnant while in the country.