A third federal judge has put a hold on President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. This ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire, follows similar decisions by judges in Seattle and Maryland. Judge Laplante, nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, indicated he was not convinced by the defense put forth by the Trump administration and promised to deliver a more detailed preliminary injunction later.

The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, which argues that Trump's order undermines the Constitution and challenges one of the country's foundational constitutional principles. The ACLU is representing immigrant rights groups and individuals who are pregnant, indicating that their future children's citizenship is at stake.

The Trump administration claims that children born to noncitizens are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. and thus should not receive citizenship. However, multiple *lawsuits* have been initiated against this executive order, with at least nine cases currently pending. The legal challenges seeking to uphold the principle of jus soli, or "right of the soil," are rooted in the historic 14th Amendment, affirmed after the Civil War and landmark cases like United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

In his ruling, Judge Laplante commended the arguments presented by both parties but ultimately sided against the administration's decree. "I’m not persuaded by the defendants’ arguments on this motion," he stated. His stance reflects those of the two other judges who previously blocked the order. In Seattle, Judge John Coughenour criticized the administration's approach as an attempt to "ignore the Constitution."

The implications of these rulings extend to at least 30 countries around the world that uphold birthright citizenship. The ongoing legal battles may shape the future of immigration policy and citizenship rights in the U.S. as judges evaluate the legality and constitutionality of Trump's policies.

For further details, refer to the articles from LA Times, India Times, and HuffPost.