A US federal judge in New Hampshire today issued a preliminary ruling blocking the application of President Donald Trump's executive order ending the right to citizenship based on birth on US territory throughout the United States.
Following the US Supreme Court's decision to limit the authority of lower courts to issue decisions with nationwide effect, federal judge Joseph LaPlante classified the case as a so-called civil rights class action, and the decision included all children who would be affected by Trump's order.
The judge issued the verdict after a one-hour oral argument and it leaves a seven-day deadline for appeal.
This quickly sends the constitutional issue of the right to acquire citizenship by birth on US territory back to the Supreme Court, in case the Trump administration files an appeal.
Then the Supreme Court judges could consider whether the new court decision fits with their decision to limit the jurisdiction of the lower courts.
The class action lawsuit, narrowed down from previous lawsuits regarding Trump's executive order, was filed on behalf of a pregnant woman, two parents, and their children, and invokes the right to acquire American citizenship by birth on US territory, based on the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
The lawsuit is being brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations.
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