A third judge blocks........

A third judge blocks Trump's order ending birthright citizenship

From the Associated Press

A third federal judge on Monday blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of people who are in the U.S. illegally.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire comes after two similar rulings by judges in Seattle and Maryland.

Laplante, who was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, said he wasn’t persuaded by the Trump administration’s defense of the executive order. He said he would issue a longer preliminary injunction later explaining his reasoning.

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union contends that Trump’s order violates the Constitution and “attempts to upend one of the most fundamental American constitutional values.” It was brought on behalf of immigrant rights groups with members who are pregnant and whose children could be affected by the order.

Trump’s Republican administration asserts that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore are not entitled to citizenship.

The administration is appealing the Seattle-based judge’s block on Trump’s executive order.

At least nine lawsuits have been filed to challenge the birthright citizenship order.