BOSTON (RTW News) — A federal appeals court in Boston has ruled on Friday, asserting that the Trump administration is prohibited from denying citizenship to children born to parents who are present in the country illegally or temporarily. This landmark decision is seen as yet another blow to the administration's birthright citizenship initiative.
The three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in their claims that the children concerned are entitled to citizenship as per the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The ruling upheld previous injunctions that have blocked the controversial birthright order, which was signed by the president on his first day in office. The order aims to halt automatic citizenship for all babies born to non-citizen parents in the U.S.
In its opinion, the court remarked, “The 'lessons of history' provide every reason to be wary of blessing this recent attempt to break with our established tradition of recognizing birthright citizenship.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, part of a coalition challenging the order, heralded the ruling as a reaffirmation of fundamental rights, stating, “The President’s attack on birthright citizenship flagrantly defies the Fourteenth Amendment.”
The ongoing legal battle is expected to escalate, with the Trump administration likely to appeal to the Supreme Court for a definitive ruling. Recent history shows multiple courts across the country have halted attempts to restrict birthright citizenship, citing constitutional protections.
This ruling comes in the wake of previous lower court decisions that also found the birthright citizenship order unlawful. Plaintiffs argue that Trump's order represents an unlawful attempt to strip American-born children of their citizenship based on their parent's immigration status.
Critically, the 14th Amendment states that anyone born in the United States is entitled to citizenship, a principle affirmed in historical court decisions. This recent ruling continues to highlight the tensions surrounding immigration policy in America, amplifying calls for clarity and protection of constitutional rights.
