A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, issued a 14-day restraining order after four Democratic-led states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon—challenged the policy.
Trump’s order, signed Monday, sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither parent is a citizen or lawful resident. The judge criticized the policy as a clear violation of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
Washington’s Attorney General Nick Brown argued the Constitution firmly protects birthright citizenship, citing a Supreme Court ruling from 1898. Civil rights groups and 22 Democratic attorneys general have filed multiple lawsuits against the order, claiming it would deny citizenship to over 150,000 newborns annually.
Justice Department lawyer Brett Shumate defended the policy, calling judicial intervention “inappropriate.” However, Coughenour swiftly signed the restraining order, stating he could not recall a clearer constitutional violation in his 40 years on the bench.
The administration plans to appeal, and a longer injunction will be considered on February 6. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation supporting Trump’s proposal.
Critics argue the order undermines constitutional protections established after the Civil War and the infamous Dred Scott decision, which denied rights to enslaved Black people. Brown stated, “Nothing the president does can change the fact that being born here makes you a citizen.”
The ruling marks a significant legal hurdle for Trump’s immigration agenda in his second term.
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