Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order, Calling It “Blatantly Unconstitution
In a major legal rebuke, a federal judge has temporarily blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to end the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship in the United States.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour issued the ruling on Thursday, halting the order just days before it was set to take effect on February 19. The controversial move had prompted immediate backlash, with attorneys general from 18 states filing lawsuits earlier this week to challenge its legality.
The Democratic officials also requested an expedited review of the case, urging the court to rule on whether to block the order before its enforcement began.
During a brief hearing in Seattle, the courtroom drama unfolded as Brett Shumate, a Justice Department lawyer, began to argue in defense of the order. However, Judge Coughenour interrupted him mid-sentence, questioning the legality of the executive action.
“Is this order constitutional?” the judge asked pointedly. “This is a blatantly unconstitutional order. We look back in history and say, ‘Where were the judges? Where were the lawyers?’”
Coughenour expressed astonishment at the executive order, describing it as unprecedented in his four decades of legal practice. “Frankly, I have difficulty finding that a member of the bar can state confidently that this is a constitutional order,” he said, adding that the move “boggles the mind.”
The executive order, signed on Monday—the day of Trump’s inauguration anniversary—was one of the former president’s key promises during his campaign to crack down on immigration. If implemented, it would have overturned centuries of legal precedent affirming the right of citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil under the 14th Amendment.
Adding to the controversy, Trump followed up the executive order by ordering the deployment of 1,500 U.S. troops to the southern border to “guard” against illegal immigration. Reports suggest the number of troops could increase to as many as 10,000 in the coming weeks.
Critics of the order have argued that it not only violates the Constitution but also risks deepening divisions on immigration policy in an already polarized political climate. Legal experts and immigration advocates have hailed the court’s decision as a significant victory in upholding constitutional protections.
The case now moves forward as the nation closely watches how this pivotal legal battle unfolds. For now, the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship remains intact—pending further court proceedings.
