Federal Courts Block Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Nationwide

Multiple federal courts, including a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, have issued nationwide injunctions blocking President Donald Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. The order, signed on Trump's first day back in office, directs agencies to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children without at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, challenging the traditional interpretation of the 14th Amendment. While the U.S. Supreme Court limited the use of nationwide injunctions in a 6-3 decision this summer, it allowed exceptions for class action lawsuits, under which Judge Boardman certified a class action representing affected children. The Justice Department has announced plans to ask the Supreme Court to resolve the constitutionality of Trump's order, which lower courts have consistently found in conflict with the 14th Amendment, setting the stage for a potentially landmark ruling by mid-2026. Legal experts highlight that the case hinges on the interpretation of the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" in the 14th Amendment, a key point of constitutional debate. The administration remains confident of a favorable Supreme Court ruling, though the courts have so far blocked enforcement of the policy nationwide.