Judge Blocks Trump’s Executive Order on Citizenship
World
A federal judge in Seattle dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s new initiative to restrict automatic birthright citizenship in the United States. The judge called Trump’s order "blatantly unconstitutional" and temporarily blocked its enforcement nationwide.
U.S. District Judge John Coughenour temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order, which sought to limit the right to citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents. The order was blocked following the initiative of the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon.
The order, signed by Trump on his first working day back in office, sparked a strong reaction from legal circles and protests from human rights advocates. "I find it hard to understand how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this order is constitutional," Judge Coughenour said to a U.S. Justice Department lawyer defending Trump’s order. "The 14th Amendment clearly guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil," he emphasized, pointing out the obvious constitutional violation.
Trump announced his intention to appeal the ruling, calling it a "temporary setback." However, opponents of the order argue that it threatens the rights of millions of children born in the U.S.
The Justice Department insisted on the legality of the order, but the judge had already issued a temporary restraining order. A court hearing on the potential long-term block of the order will take place on February 6.
The order, signed by Trump on his first working day back in office, sparked a strong reaction from legal circles and protests from human rights advocates. "I find it hard to understand how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this order is constitutional," Judge Coughenour said to a U.S. Justice Department lawyer defending Trump’s order. "The 14th Amendment clearly guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil," he emphasized, pointing out the obvious constitutional violation.
Trump announced his intention to appeal the ruling, calling it a "temporary setback." However, opponents of the order argue that it threatens the rights of millions of children born in the U.S.
The Justice Department insisted on the legality of the order, but the judge had already issued a temporary restraining order. A court hearing on the potential long-term block of the order will take place on February 6.
Powered by Froala Editor