A federal judge in Massachusetts on Friday upheld a nationwide injunction against President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at limiting birthright citizenship, rejecting the administration's bid to narrow the scope of the ruling. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that keeping the broad injunction in place is the only way to fully protect the 22 Democratic-led states and immigrant advocacy groups challenging the order. "(The evidence) does not support a finding that any narrower option would feasibly and adequately protect the plaintiffs from the injuries they have shown they are likely to suffer if the unlawful policy announced in the Executive Order takes effect during the pendency of this lawsuit," Sorokin wrote. The executive order, signed by Trump on Jan. 20—the day he was inaugurated—directed federal agencies to deny U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Opponents swiftly sued, arguing the move violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to all individuals born in the United States, regardless of parental status. "American-born babies are American, just as they have been at every other time in our nation's history," said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. "The president cannot change that legal rule with the stroke of a pen." The Trump administration contended that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling supported a narrower injunction, but Sorokin rejected that interpretation. The White House said it plans to appeal. "Courts are misinterpreting the purpose and the text of the 14th Amendment," said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. "We look forward to being vindicated on appeal." — Agencies
