Seattle: A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily halted former President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship in the United States. US District Judge John Coughenour issued a 14-day restraining order on January 23, citing the policy as “blatantly unconstitutional.” This marks a major legal blow to Trump’s renewed efforts to redefine citizenship laws.
Trump’s order, signed on his first day back in office, directed federal agencies to deny citizenship to children born in the US if neither parent is a citizen or legal permanent resident. The policy has faced fierce opposition from four Democratic-led states — Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon — who argue that it violates the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil.
“This executive order undermines constitutional protections that have existed for over a century,” Judge Coughenour stated during the hearing, referencing the landmark Supreme Court ruling ‘United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)’ that affirmed birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens.
With over 1,50,000 newborns potentially affected annually, critics argue the policy strips them of Social Security benefits and legal rights. Meanwhile, Trump’s allies in Congress are pushing legislation to formalize the policy, intensifying the debate on immigration reform.
