US Appeals Court Declares Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Unconstitutional

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s effort to limit birthright citizenship has suffered another major setback, as a second federal appeals court ruled the policy unconstitutional on Friday.

A three-judge panel of the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Boston, upheld previous injunctions issued by federal judges in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, preventing the executive order from taking effect nationwide.

Trump’s order, signed on January 20, directed federal agencies to deny citizenship to children born in the US unless at least one parent is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).

However, Judge David Barron, writing for the panel, said the order violated the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil. He noted that the case was not complex, stating:

“It is not, which may explain why it has been more than a century since a branch of our government has made as concerted an effort as the Executive Branch now makes to deny Americans their birthright.”

The ruling follows a similar decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in July, which also found Trump’s order unconstitutional under the citizenship clause.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration disagreed with the court’s interpretation and planned to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

“We look forward to being vindicated by the Supreme Court,” she said.

If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it will mark the second time the issue returns to the high court, which earlier limited lower courts’ authority to impose nationwide injunctions.

For now, Trump’s executive order remains blocked nationwide, as judges continue to rule that it contradicts the core principles of the US Constitution.