February 11, 2025 – US President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants has now been blocked by a third Federal Judge. Earlier, two other judges, in Seattle and Maryland, had blocked the order. The third Judge to do so is US District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire.

In his ruling, Laplante said he was not convinced by the US Administration’s defense of the order and would later issue a lengthier preliminary injunction explaining his reasoning. The American Civil Liberties Union had filed a lawsuit against the order calling it a violation of the Constitution and an attempt “to upend one of the most fundamental American Constitution values”.

Trump, on assuming office as US President, had issued an executive order asserting that children of non-citizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the US and hence, not entitled to citizenship.

As of now at least nine lawsuits have been filed challenging this order.

With Media Inputs