Federal judge blocks Trump's new bid to end automatic US citizenship

A federal judge in Maryland has halted President Donald Trump's most recent effort to alter the country's birthright citizenship policy, issuing a temporary injunction against an executive order that purportedly targeted "birth tourism." U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman, appointed by President Joe Biden, ruled on Wednesday that the injunction would remain in place until a class-action lawsuit filed by immigrant families and advocacy groups is concluded.

Boardman emphasized in her ruling that the Supreme Court has already determined that children born on U.S. soil are "citizens at birth." Birthright citizenship has been a cornerstone of U.S. law since the 14th Amendment was enacted in 1868, following the Civil War. However, President Trump has consistently sought to end this practice, first attempting to do so through an executive order in June, which was subsequently invalidated by the Supreme Court.

In August, Trump made a second attempt at reversing birthright citizenship through the current executive order in question.