Seattle:
In a significant legal blow to former President Donald Trump’s administration, a federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked the implementation of an executive order aimed at curtailing automatic birthright citizenship in the United States. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour labeled the order “blatantly unconstitutional,” aligning with arguments presented by four Democratic-led states and civil rights groups.
The executive order, signed on Trump’s first day in office, sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are neither U.S. citizens nor legal permanent residents. Critics argue the move directly violates the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
Temporary Restraining Order Issued
The judge’s decision came after a hearing prompted by attorneys general from Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon, who requested an immediate halt to the administration’s efforts. “Under this order, babies being born today don’t count as U.S. citizens,” said Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola during the hearing.
Judge Coughenour, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the executive order from being enforced until further review. He strongly criticized the government’s defense, calling the order a clear violation of constitutional principles.
Widespread Legal Challenges
The controversial order has sparked five lawsuits from Democratic attorneys general and civil rights groups across 22 states. Opponents argue that Trump’s action undermines a 127-year-old precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed that children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents are entitled to citizenship.
The 14th Amendment, adopted in 1868 following the Civil War, was explicitly designed to grant citizenship to all individuals born in the U.S., overturning the infamous Dred Scott decision that excluded enslaved Black people from constitutional protections.
Impact of the Executive Order
Had the order gone into effect, children born after February 19 to parents without citizenship or lawful permanent residency would have been denied Social Security numbers, government benefits, and legal work authorization. Democratic-led states estimate the policy could strip citizenship from over 150,000 newborns annually.
The U.S. Justice Department defended the order, describing it as a necessary measure to address immigration challenges and claiming the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause had never been universally applied. However, legal experts and lawmakers have widely condemned the move as a dangerous reinterpretation of constitutional rights.
Legislation Push by Trump Allies
Adding to the controversy, 36 Republican lawmakers introduced legislation earlier this week to restrict birthright citizenship, aligning with Trump’s efforts to overhaul immigration policy.
What’s Next?
While Judge Coughenour’s ruling provides temporary relief, the case’s outcome will likely shape the future of birthright citizenship in the U.S. and could set the stage for a landmark Supreme Court battle. For now, the administration is barred from implementing the policy, leaving the fate of the executive order in legal limbo.
