A federal court has blocked a controversial move by the Trump administration aimed at ending automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants. On July 25, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled against the policy, making it the third legal setback for the administration’s efforts nationwide.
Judge Sorokin’s decision strengthens an earlier, wider injunction that applies to over a dozen states. Although a recent Supreme Court ruling curbed lower courts from issuing sweeping nationwide injunctions, Sorokin relied on an established legal exception that allows such rulings under particular legal circumstances, as reported by the Associated Press.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin welcomed the court’s decision, emphasizing that children born on U.S. soil have always been recognized as American citizens, a principle rooted in history and law.
At the heart of the dispute is the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1868 following the Civil War. This amendment was a direct response to the Dred Scott case, in which an enslaved man was denied citizenship. The amendment firmly states that anyone born in the U.S. is automatically granted citizenship.
The Trump administration, however, contends that the 14th Amendment does not apply to the children of undocumented immigrants because they are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S. In response to the latest ruling, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson claimed that the courts are misinterpreting the amendment’s language and intentions. She asserted the administration’s belief that their position would ultimately prevail in the appeals process.
Legal analysts expect the case to move quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court for a final judgment. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for immigration law and constitutional protections in the years ahead.
