Washington, D.C. –A second federal judge has blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship in the United States, ruling that it is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman ruled against the order, citing that no court has supported the administration’s stance on the issue. This decision follows an earlier ruling by U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, who also declared the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Both judges have put the executive order on hold, with Boardman’s ruling remaining in effect throughout the appeal process.
Boardman, an appointee of President Joe Biden, emphasized that citizenship is a “national concern that demands a uniform policy.” In her decision, she referenced the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to individuals born or naturalized in the United States.
“Citizenship is a most precious right, expressly granted by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution,” she wrote.
Her ruling extends beyond the previous temporary pause set by Coughenour, whose decision only delayed the order’s implementation for 14 days.
Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, previously ruled on January 23 that Trump’s executive order “boggles the mind” and described it as one of the most unconstitutional cases he had encountered in over 40 years on the bench.
Trump’s executive order sought to reinterpret the Fourteenth Amendment, stating that children born to undocumented immigrants or those on temporary visas are not entitled to birthright citizenship.
The move sparked immediate legal challenges from four U.S. states—Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington—arguing that the Constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
Meanwhile, 18 Republican attorneys general have defended Trump’s position. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, leading a legal brief in support of the order, argued that birthright citizenship leads to an increased financial burden on taxpayers.
“If someone comes on a tourist visa to have an anchor baby, they are not under the original meaning of the United States Constitution,” Bird told Fox News Digital. She added that taxpayer-funded healthcare programs often cover medical costs for these births.
With Boardman’s ruling in place, Trump’s executive order remains blocked as the case moves through the appeals process. Legal experts predict that the issue could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, setting up a major constitutional showdown over the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
