An IMGW News Report
A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked an executive order issued by President Donald Trump aimed at restricting automatic birthright citizenship, describing the move as “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Judge John Coughenour, based in Seattle, issued the restraining order following a legal challenge from four Democratic-led states: Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon. Trump’s order sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither parent was a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
“I am struggling to understand how any legal professional could categorically assert that this order is constitutional,” Coughenour stated during the hearing.
The states argued that the executive order violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil. Judge Coughenour agreed, emphasising that the order directly contravenes the citizenship clause of the amendment.
Trump responded to the ruling by saying, “Obviously we’ll appeal.” The executive order is part of a broader series of measures the president promised to implement upon taking office, reflecting his long-standing opposition to birthright citizenship.
Criticism has also come from within Trump’s family. His niece, Mary Trump, has previously condemned his stance, highlighting the critical role of birthright citizenship in their own family history.
The temporary restraining order halts the policy’s enforcement nationwide for 14 days, during which the court will consider whether to issue a longer-lasting preliminary injunction. A hearing is set for 6 February.
If the executive order ultimately takes effect, it could deny citizenship to more than 150,000 newborns each year, according to estimates provided by the states challenging the policy.
