Judge Boardman explained that the plaintiffs had “easily” demonstrated the need for a preliminary injunction. Her ruling is based on what she described as a clear likelihood that the executive order would be deemed unconstitutional.
“The U.S. Supreme Court has firmly rejected the president’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause,” Judge Boardman declared, referencing multiple rulings that have upheld birthright citizenship. “No court in the nation has ever endorsed this interpretation, and I will not be the first.”
Nationwide Impact
The judge’s ruling extends beyond the Maryland case, as she emphasized the “nationwide concern” over the issue of citizenship. She stated that the legal tradition of granting U.S. citizenship to virtually every baby born on U.S. soil will remain in place for now.
“Today, every baby born on U.S. soil is a U.S. citizen, and that is the law and tradition of our country,” Boardman said. She noted that blocking the executive order “will not harm the government,” but rather, it will protect the integrity of the system by preventing an unconstitutional action.
The Government’s Next Move
The Department of Justice, which had urged the judge to limit the injunction to the plaintiffs in the case, has not yet indicated whether it will appeal. A hearing in Seattle scheduled for Thursday could further shape the legal landscape surrounding this highly contested issue.
Legal Teams Respond
The plaintiffs, represented by a range of advocacy groups, including CASA and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, celebrated the decision as a victory for immigrant rights. The legal team has vowed to continue fighting for the rights of U.S.-born children, asserting that the executive order would harm families across the country.
