A federal judge on Thursday has barred the Trump administration from enforcing the president’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship, coming weeks after the Supreme Court restricted the capacity of judges to issue nationwide injunctions.
U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante announced his decision after an hour-long hearing and said a written order will follow. The order will include a seven-day stay to allow for appeal, he said.
“That’s irreparable harm, citizenship alone,” he said in court, according to reporters in the courtroom, referring to American citizenship. “It is the greatest privilege that exists in the world.”
President Donald Trump in January issued the order ending automatic birthright citizenship to individuals born in the United States to parents who are illegal immigrants.
