Geline Salac

US judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order

Article (news)

Reuters Wires

A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday (January 23) blocked President Donald Trump&#x27;s administration from implementing an executive order curtailing the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it &quot;blatantly unconstitutional.&quot;U.S. District Judge John Coughenour at the urging of four Democratic-led states issued a temporary restraining order preventing the administration from enforcing the order, which the Republican president signed on Monday (January 20) during his first day on office.&quot;This is blatantly unconstitutional order,&quot; the judge told a lawyer with the U.S. Justice Department defending Trump&#x27;s order.The order has already become the subject of five lawsuits by civil rights groups and Democratic attorneys general from 22 states, who call it a flagrant violation of the U.S. Constitution.&quot;Under this order, babies being born today don&#x27;t count as U.S. citizens,&quot; Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola told Senior U.S. District Judge John Coughenour at the start of a hearing in Seattle.Asked about the decision, Trump said his administration will make an appeal.“We’ll appeal it. They put it before a certain judge in Seattle, I guess. Right? And there&#x27;s no surprises with that judge,” he said.Polozola - on behalf of Democratic state attorneys general from Washington state, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon - urged the judge to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out this key element of Trump&#x27;s immigration crackdown.The challengers argue that Trump&#x27;s action violates the right enshrined in the citizenship clause of the Constitution&#x27;s 14th Amendment that provides that anyone born in the United States is a citizen.Trump in his executive order directed U.S. agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States if neither their mother nor father is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/22/-un-american-birthright-citizenship-debate-divides-new-york-0942">&#x27;Un-American’: Birthright citizenship debate divides NY</a></div>In a brief filed late on Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department called the order an &quot;integral part&quot; of the president&#x27;s efforts &quot;to address this nation&#x27;s broken immigration system and the ongoing crisis at the southern border.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/21/states-sue-over-trump-bid-to-end-birthright-citizenship-0645">States sue over Trump bid to end birthright citizenship</a></div>The lawsuit filed in Seattle has been progressing more quickly than the four other cases brought over the executive order. It has been assigned to Coughenour, an appointee of Republican former President Ronald Reagan.The judge potentially could rule from the bench after hearing arguments, or he could wait to write a decision ahead of Trump&#x27;s order taking effect.Under the order, any children born after Feb. 19 whose mothers or fathers are not citizens or lawful permanent residents would be subject to deportation and would be prevented from obtaining Social Security numbers, various government benefits and the ability as they get older to work lawfully.More than 150,000 newborn children would be denied citizenship annually if Trump&#x27;s order is allowed to stand, according to the Democratic-led states.(Production: Matt M. McKnight, Nathan Frandino)

More than 150,000 newborn children would be denied citizenship annually if Trump's order is allowed to stand, according to the Democratic-led states.

More than 150,000 newborn children would be denied citizenship annually if Trump's order is allowed to stand, according to the Democratic-led states.

US judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order

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US judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order

Reuters

Published January 24, 2025 07:10 AM PHT

Read More:

Donald trump

birthright citizenship

undocumented

illegal immigrants

us immigration

united states

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