A federal judge has chosen not to force Texas health department to change their stance in denying birth certificates to immigrant families with U.S- born children, saying that the families raised serious concerns but more evidence is needed, according to a ruling issued on Friday.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin denied an emergency injunction on behalf of immigrant families seeking birth certificates for their children after the Department of State Health Services refused to recognize "matricula consular" cards, issued by Mexican consulates, as a form of identification to obtain birth certificates for U.S.-born children.

The case has come at a time when birthright citizenship for the children of immigrants, which is enshrined in the Constitution, has been challenged by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and other conservatives.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the ruling as "an important first step in ensuring the integrity of birth certificates and personal identity information."

This year, over two dozen immigrant parents in South Texas sued the state on behalf of 32 children they claim had been denied birth certificates and access to vital services.

The families understood the judge's decision but worry about the safety of their children in the interim, lead attorney for the children, Jennifer Harbury of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, said.