A federal judge in Seattle has thrown a wrench into Donald Trump’s latest immigration initiative, branding the former president’s executive order on birthright citizenship “blatantly unconstitutional.” The temporary restraining order halts enforcement of the policy for 14 days while further legal challenges unfold.
The controversial order, signed on Trump’s first day back in office, aimed to deny citizenship to children born in the United States unless at least one parent was a U.S. citizen or lawful resident. If implemented, it would strip an estimated 150,000 newborns annually of their citizenship rights, barring them from critical benefits and legal protections.
Judge John Coughenour, a seasoned jurist with over four decades on the bench, wasted no time in issuing the ruling after hearing arguments from four Democratic-led states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon. “This is as clear-cut as it gets,” Coughenour remarked. “The Constitution’s citizenship clause is unambiguous, and this order flies in its face.”
Trump dismissed the setback, vowing to appeal. Meanwhile, the Justice Department doubled down, asserting the policy’s legality and signaling plans to fight for its enforcement. “We will vigorously defend this order,” a department spokesperson declared, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to overhauling what they deem a “broken immigration system.”
The order’s reach, had it gone unchallenged, would have been sweeping. Babies born after February 19 to non-citizen parents would be deemed non-citizens, subject to deportation, and barred from essential government benefits. Critics argue this policy strikes at the heart of the 14th Amendment, a post-Civil War measure designed to guarantee citizenship to anyone born on American soil.
Civil rights groups, Democratic state attorneys general, and constitutional scholars have united against the order, citing a 127-year-old Supreme Court precedent affirming birthright citizenship. Legal battles are now brewing in multiple states, as opponents gear up to ensure the order never sees the light of day.
With a hearing set for February 6 to consider a longer injunction, the stage is set for a fierce legal and political clash. For now, the Constitution’s promise of birthright citizenship remains intact, though its future hangs in the balance.
