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Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship, Citing Unconstitutionality

Seattle, January 24, 2025 – The Europe Today: A federal judge in Seattle has issued a temporary restraining order halting former President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship in the United States. The order, which has sparked widespread criticism, threatened to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. whose parents are undocumented or not legal permanent residents.

District Court Judge John Coughenour delivered a sharp rebuke of the measure on Thursday, describing it as “blatantly unconstitutional.” He added, “I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, and I can’t remember another case where the question presented was this clear. Where were the lawyers when this decision was being made?”

The restraining order stems from a lawsuit filed by four Democrat-led states—Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington—and is the first of five lawsuits challenging the executive order to reach the hearing stage. Civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have also condemned the order, calling it a fundamental assault on the U.S. Constitution and the concept of citizenship.

Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola argued during the hearing, “Under this order, babies being born today don’t count as U.S. citizens.”

Constitutional Concerns

The debate centers around the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which has guaranteed birthright citizenship since its adoption in 1868. It states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

For over a century, the Supreme Court has upheld this principle. However, the Trump administration argued that the amendment was never intended to apply to the children of undocumented immigrants, claiming such individuals are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S.

Rights groups have expressed alarm at the potential implications of the order. “This is not just an attack on undocumented families but an unprecedented attempt to undermine a cornerstone of American democracy,” said an ACLU representative.

Broader Immigration Crackdown

The halted order was part of a series of measures signed by Trump aimed at restricting immigration, which his administration described as addressing an “ongoing crisis at the southern border.” The Department of Justice characterized the order as “integral” to its efforts.

Among its provisions, the order instructed the Social Security Administration to withhold Social Security cards and numbers from children born after February 19 if either parent is not a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.

Looking Ahead

Thursday’s ruling is seen as a significant victory for opponents of the executive order, though the legal battle is far from over. The decision to block the order temporarily allows further examination of its constitutionality.

Judge Coughenour’s ruling underscores the enduring strength of constitutional protections. As he stated, “The principles enshrined in the 14th Amendment are clear, and no executive order can undermine the fundamental rights it guarantees.”

The case is expected to proceed through the courts, with significant implications for U.S. immigration policy and constitutional law.