Judge Appointed by Biden Blocks Trump’s Order to Protect Citizenship Integrity
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A federal judge has issued an injunction against President Trump’s executive order aimed at safeguarding citizenship standards, despite the administration’s assertion that the policy aligns with Supreme Court precedent.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed by Biden, has issued a preliminary injunction halting the Trump administration’s August 6 executive order, which was designed to address abuses of birthright citizenship by children of foreign nationals designated as alien enemies or born via surrogacy arrangements. This ruling follows a recent Supreme Court decision in Barbara v. Trump, which maintained citizenship for children born in the U.S. to unlawful or temporary residents under the 14th Amendment.
Judge Boardman claimed the order is 'almost certainly unconstitutional' as applied to the plaintiffs, referencing the Supreme Court’s interpretation that such children are citizens at birth. She also expressed concern that the administration’s broad definition of 'enemy' could lead to the denial of citizenship, a point critics argue ignores national security considerations.
The White House, through spokesperson Lauren Bis, rejected the injunction, maintaining that the executive order is consistent with Supreme Court rulings and necessary to prevent exploitation of U.S. citizenship laws. Former Justice Department official Abhi Kambli noted that the judge’s decision is a facial challenge, requiring proof that the order is unlawful in every application.
Legal advocates for the plaintiffs, represented by CASA, predictably welcomed the decision, focusing on hypothetical harms rather than the need to protect the integrity of U.S. citizenship.
This marks the second time Judge Boardman has blocked a Trump-era effort to restore order to birthright citizenship policy, setting up further legal battles over the administration’s attempts to close loopholes and defend American sovereignty.