A United States federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to alter birthright citizenship, describing the move as “blatantly unconstitutional.”
The order, set to take effect on January 19, directed government agencies to cease issuing citizenship documentation to babies born in the U.S. to parents without legal status.
President Trump signed the controversial executive order, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” just hours after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. The move has already sparked multiple legal challenges from immigration advocacy groups, with more lawsuits anticipated in response to the divisive directive.
In a court hearing in Seattle, lawyers representing four states argued for an immediate block on Trump’s order, which aimed to deny birthright citizenship to children of undocumented migrants and individuals in the U.S. temporarily.
During the hearing, Justice Department lawyer Brett Shumate began defending the order’s validity but was interrupted by Judge John Coughenour, who questioned its constitutionality.
“Is this order constitutional?” the judge asked, cutting into Shumate’s arguments. Before Shumate could respond, Judge Coughenour declared, “This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.”
The judge continued, “We look back in history and say, ‘Where were the judges, where were the lawyers?’ Frankly, I have difficulty finding that a member of the bar can state confidently that this is a constitutional order.” His remarks underscored his strong disapproval of the executive order, setting the tone for further legal proceedings.
The attorney general of Washington, Nicholas Brown, addressed the press following the judge’s decision to issue a nationwide block on the order. Speaking about the ruling, he said, “This was fairly obvious. This was simple.” Brown also expressed confidence that the temporary block would withstand further judicial scrutiny, adding that the decision marked the first step in a broader legal battle.
“We believe this ruling will not be overturned by another court,” Brown stated, underscoring his belief in the order’s unconstitutionality.
While the Trump administration has not yet announced its next legal move, the nationwide block represents a significant setback in its effort to reshape birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Immigration advocacy groups and legal experts predict that the case will likely advance to higher courts, with the potential to reach the Supreme Court.