Birthright citizenship remains in effect despite recent court decisions and President Donald Trump's executive order

Matt Kuenning, who teaches at Illinois State University and practices law in Champaign, says a New Hampshire judge's ruling to certify a class-action lawsuit will reduce the harm caused by the Trump administration's executive order.

One of his biggest targets: the birthright citizenship that has defined American identity for over 150 years. On Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s order, which had directed federal departments to deny birthright citizenship from children born to mothers and fathers who are not legal American citizens.

Ending the birthright citizenship will deny citizenship by birth to those born to undocumented people within the US and to the children of those on student, work, tourist and certain other types of visas.

President Donald Trump is threatening to strip people of their U.S. citizenship, including political foes, as his administration works to deport people

U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante issued a preliminary injunction against Trump's birthright citizenship ban, ruling that deprivation of citizenship would create irreparable harm.