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Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Order on Birthright Citizenship
A federal judge has temporarily halted President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to many migrants. This decision marks a significant legal setback for one of Trump’s high-profile Day 1 orders.
The executive order challenges the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which has guaranteed citizenship to all individuals born within the country for over 150 years. The amendment’s Citizenship Clause explicitly states that “[a]ll persons born” on U.S. soil and “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country are citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
The controversial order quickly faced lawsuits from 22 states and multiple civil rights organizations. These groups argued that the order unlawfully attempted to strip citizenship based on parental immigration status, a move they say violates long-standing constitutional principles.
U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, sided with Washington and 17 other states in granting an injunction to prevent the order from taking effect. During the hearing, Judge Coughenour remarked, “In my four decades on the bench, I cannot recall a case with a constitutional question as clear as this one. This order is blatantly unconstitutional.”
The ruling is considered an early victory for Democratic-led states challenging the order, though the legal fight is far from over. The blocked order will not take effect as litigation continues.
“President Trump’s attempt to nullify this well-established constitutional principle through executive action is deeply concerning,” attorneys general from Washington and the other states argued in their filing.
Trump’s administration officials hinted at modifications to their approach even before the order was signed, suggesting they might pursue the policy on a “prospective basis.” A federal official stated, “The federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States,” outlining the administration’s intended direction.
This temporary block highlights the ongoing legal and constitutional debates surrounding immigration and citizenship in the U.S., as courts weigh the scope of executive power against firmly established constitutional protections.