Federal Judge Halts Trump's Order on Birthright Citizenship, Calls It "Blatantly Unconstitutional"

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at curtailing automatic birthright citizenship in the United States. Judge John Coughenour of the US District Court in Seattle ruled the order as "blatantly unconstitutional," responding to legal challenges from four Democratic-led states: Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon.

Signed on Trump's first day back in office, the executive order sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither of their parents were American citizens or lawful permanent residents. Judge Coughenour expressed disbelief at the claim that the order was constitutional, highlighting that the issue at hand was as clear as it could be.

The ruling, which prevents enforcement of the order nationwide for 14 days, is seen as a significant legal setback for Trump's immigration policies. The Judge is set to hear further arguments on February 6 to decide whether to issue a longer injunction. If the order is upheld, it is estimated that over 150,000 newborns may be denied citizenship each year.

The Justice Department has announced its intention to appeal the ruling, stating that it plans to "vigorously defend" Trump's position. Meanwhile, state officials maintain that citizenship by birthright is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a principle affirmed in a landmark Supreme Court decision more than a century ago.

Over the past days, multiple lawsuits challenging Trump's order have been filed by civil rights groups and state attorneys general across the nation, further escalating the debate surrounding immigration and citizenship rights in the U.S.