Federal Judge blocks Trump’s executive order on ending birthright citizenship; calls it ‘blatantly unconstitutional’

First legal setback for Trump, Judge blocks US President’s bid to end birthright citizenship

A US federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump‘s executive order aimed at ending automatic birthright citizenship, calling the order “blatantly unconstitutional.” The decision came after four Democratic-led states and civil rights groups filed lawsuits challenging the order, which was signed by Trump on his first day back in office.

Temporary restraining order issued

US District Judge John Coughenour issued a 14-day restraining order to prevent the Trump administration from implementing the executive order. The judge scheduled a hearing for February 6 to determine whether to extend the block as the case moves forward.

“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Coughenour said, citing the clear conflict with the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which grants citizenship to anyone born on US soil.

Trump’s controversial order

Signed on January 22, Trump’s executive order seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the US if neither parent is a citizen or legal permanent resident. This would impact over 150,000 children born annually to non-citizen parents.

Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola argued the order’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment was “absurd” and pointed out that non-citizens and their children remain subject to US law and jurisdiction.

Legal challenges

Democratic-led states, including Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon, joined civil rights groups and individual plaintiffs in filing lawsuits. They argue that the order violates the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment, which explicitly grants citizenship to anyone born in the US.

The lawsuits highlighted the immediate implications of the order, including financial burdens on states to overhaul healthcare and benefits systems. “Births cannot be paused while the court considers this case,” Polozola argued.

Trump administration’s response

The Department of Justice vowed to “vigorously defend” the executive order, asserting that it “correctly interprets” the 14th Amendment. President Trump, responding to the judge’s ruling, said his administration would appeal the decision. “Obviously, we will appeal it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Impact and implications

Critics, including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, warned that the order would strip citizenship from thousands of children born annually in the US and set a dangerous precedent. Civil rights groups and immigration advocates have condemned the move as an unconstitutional overreach of executive power.

As the court battle unfolds, the temporary block prevents any immediate implementation of the order, but the legal showdown signals the beginning of a contentious fight over one of Trump’s central immigration policies.

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