A federal appeals court has ruled that U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting automatic birthright citizenship violates the Constitution, halting its enforcement nationwide. The decision, issued Wednesday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, marks the first appellate review of the order since the Supreme Court’s June ruling that limited lower courts’ authority to block federal policies nationwide.
In a 2-1 decision, the panel found Trump’s directive unlawful, siding with arguments that the order conflicted with the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship for individuals born on U.S. soil. The court’s ruling prevents federal agencies from implementing the measure while further legal challenges continue.
Trump’s executive order, announced as part of his immigration agenda, aimed to narrow eligibility for birthright citizenship, primarily impacting children born to non-citizen parents. The move drew immediate lawsuits from civil rights groups and immigration advocates, who argued that the policy overstepped presidential authority and undermined constitutional protections.
Wednesday’s ruling delivers a significant setback to the Trump administration, which has sought sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy. Legal experts note the decision could influence future challenges to executive actions and potentially return the issue to the Supreme Court for review.
The case underscores ongoing tensions over immigration reform, a central theme in U.S. political debates. With nationwide enforcement blocked, the administration faces limited options as the legal battle over birthright citizenship continues to unfold ahead of the upcoming election cycle.