Federal Appeals Courts Reject Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order
March 12, 2025, 12:05 pm CDT
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has joined two other circuits in ruling against the Trump administration’s order regarding birthright citizenship. (Image from Shutterstock)
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has dismissed the Trump administration’s attempt to implement a controversial order concerning birthright citizenship, becoming the third federal appeals court to do so. This ruling stems from President Donald Trump’s January directive, which sought to limit citizenship rights based on a parent’s immigration status.
Background of the Ruling
On March 11, 2025, the 1st Circuit denied the government’s request to stay a nationwide injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin. The injunction was granted on February 13, following a lawsuit from 18 states, the District of Columbia, and San Francisco, which argued that Trump’s order violated the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause.
The appeals court’s decision aligns with previous rulings from both the 9th Circuit in San Francisco and the 4th Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, both of which issued string objections to the order.
Legal Arguments and Court Opinions
Central to the 1st Circuit’s decision was the government’s failure to demonstrate that Trump’s order was constitutional. Instead, Department of Justice lawyers focused their arguments on whether the states had standing, asserting that they did not. Conversely, the states maintained that the implementation of the order would negatively impact federal funding in critical areas such as health care and education.
The 1st Circuit ruled in favor of the states, emphasizing the inadequacy of the government’s arguments to rebut the claims presented by the plaintiffs. Chief Judge David J. Barron authored the court’s opinion in the case titled New Jersey v. Trump.
Reaction to the Decision
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin expressed satisfaction with the ruling, noting that this decision reflects a consistent rejection of efforts to alter birthright citizenship through executive action. “Every court to consider President Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship by executive order has found it is flagrantly unconstitutional,” Platkin stated. He reaffirmed their commitment to defending the rights of birthright citizens amidst ongoing legal challenges.
As legal disputes over this contentious issue continue, the rulings underscore the courts’ stance on the constitutionality of altering established citizenship policies through executive orders.
