Federal judge has slammed the brakes on President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting birthright citizenship, warning it could leave “permanent scars” on families across the nation.
The ruling, issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin of Massachusetts, sides with plaintiffs who challenged Trump’s move to deny automatic citizenship to certain children born on U.S. soil. The judge emphasized that the order threatens “a bedrock constitutional guarantee” and could have devastating consequences for those affected.
A Direct Challenge to the Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment, adopted in 1868, grants U.S. citizenship to anyone born in the country. But Trump, in his January 20, 2025, executive order titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” argued that the amendment has been misinterpreted for decades.
According to the order, children born in the U.S. would no longer be recognized as citizens if their mother was “unlawfully present” and their father was neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident. Even children whose mothers were legally present but only on a temporary basis would be denied birthright citizenship if their fathers lacked legal status.
The Legal Fallout
Since the executive order’s announcement, Trump has faced multiple legal setbacks, with federal judges consistently blocking its enforcement. On Thursday, Judge Sorokin issued a scathing ruling, asserting that revoking birthright citizenship has “cascading effects” and is likely unconstitutional.
Despite these rulings, Trump remains defiant, vowing to appeal the decision. Earlier this week, The Associated Press reported that the former president is preparing to take the battle to higher courts.
Political Firestorm Erupts
The ruling has triggered heated reactions from political figures across the spectrum.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James celebrated the injunction, stating: “Birthright citizenship is a constitutional right, and no President can solely rewrite our Constitution.”
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed that sentiment: “Trump may believe he is above the law, but this ruling sends a clear message: he cannot rewrite the Constitution with the stroke of a pen.”
- Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg dismissed the executive order as legally doomed: “The 14th Amendment says what it says. Trump has no chance of repealing birthright citizenship via executive order.”
- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, however, stood firmly behind Trump’s policy: “No one should be rewarded for breaking the law. We must restore the meaning and value of American citizenship.”
What’s Next?
With Trump signaling an appeal, the fight over birthright citizenship is far from over. As legal battles intensify, the fate of thousands of American-born children remains uncertain, making this one of the most contentious immigration battles in U.S. history.
