Federal Judge Seeks Clarity on Birthright Citizenship Deportation Amid Supreme Court Suspension

The U.S. Justice Department has assured a federal judge that President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship will not be enforced or lead to the deportation of U.S.-born children before July 27, when the Supreme Court's 30-day pause on the order expires. This executive order seeks to limit citizenship to babies with at least one parent who is a citizen or legal resident, but its enforcement is currently blocked. The Supreme Court ruled that federal courts cannot issue nationwide injunctions to block such policies, meaning enforcement and legal relief will vary by jurisdiction. The judge requested a written summary of what the government can and cannot do following the ruling, amid concerns from plaintiffs' attorneys about the stress and confusion caused to families and the potential for other harms beyond deportation. While the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship remains intact under the 14th Amendment, this ruling could result in uneven enforcement across different states. The administration is developing guidelines for implementing the order, but until the Supreme Court's pause ends, its provisions remain unenforced.