WASHINGTON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Another federal judge on Friday halted the Trump administration's attempt to end birthright citizenship, marking the third nationwide court ruling against the administration's policy since a pivotal Supreme Court decision in June.
Judge Leo Sorokin, from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, joined a federal judge in New Hampshire and a three-judge panel for a federal appeals court in San Francisco in blocking the Trump administration's restrictions on birthright citizenship, ruling that a nationwide injunction on the executive order remains in place under an exception to the Supreme Court ruling.
On June 27, in a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court held that lower federal courts may not issue broad nationwide or universal injunctions blocking implementation of executive actions across the country.
The country's highest court, however, did not rule on the constitutionality of the birthright citizenship order itself.
On July 10, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire blocked President Donald Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship nationwide.
On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump's order seeking to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, affirming the New Hampshire federal court's decision that blocked its enforcement nationwide.
In the latest ruling, Sorokin argued that a piecemeal enforcement of the birthright order wouldn't adequately protect the states, partly because many individuals frequently move from one state to another.
Sorokin acknowledged that the case will eventually go back to the Supreme Court. "No doubt the Supreme Court will ultimately settle the question," Sorokin wrote. "But in the meantime, for purposes of this lawsuit at this juncture, the Executive Order is unconstitutional."
After taking office on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to halt recognition of citizenship for children born after Feb. 19, if neither parent is a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident.
Over 20 states and civil rights groups immediately filed lawsuits challenging the order, calling it blatantly "unconstitutional." ■