Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order as Unconstitutional

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A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order which aimed to deny automatic birthright citizenship to children of non-citizen parents. Seattle-based U.S. District Judge John Coughenour deemed the order "blatantly unconstitutional," ruling in favor of four Democratic-led states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon—who challenged the directive.

The ruling comes as a significant legal setback for Trump's administration, particularly in light of the policies surrounding immigration that have been central to his second term. Trump signed the order on his first day back in office, which would have prevented any children born in the U.S. to non-citizen or lawful permanent resident parents from receiving citizenship.

During a courtroom hearing, Judge Coughenour expressed disbelief at the justification for the order provided by a U.S. Justice Department lawyer, noting the constitutional implications tied to the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. The ruling enforces a temporary restraining order for 14 days while the judge considers a longer-lasting injunction.

The Trump administration plans to appeal the decision, asserting that the order is a necessary part of efforts to address immigration issues. However, Washington's Attorney General Nick Brown stated that there is strong precedent affirming automatic citizenship for those born on American soil.

If the order stands, it could result in over 150,000 newborns annually being denied U.S. citizenship, sparking various lawsuits from civil rights groups and attorneys general across the nation. The matter is set to return to court on February 6 for further arguments.

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