Judge says he will block Trumps blatantly unconstitutional executive order that aims to end birthright citizenship
CNNJan 23
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump's Order Ending Birthright Citizenship
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Above: US Pres. Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing Jan. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A US federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked Pres. Donald Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional" during a hearing. The order was scheduled to take effect Feb. 19.
The order would deny automatic citizenship to children born in the US to non-citizen parents, including both undocumented immigrants and those legally present on temporary visas.
Judge John Coughenour, who was appointed by Pres. Ronald Reagan, issued a 14-day restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed by several states — one of five legal challenges brought by 22 states and immigrant rights groups since the order was signed.
The Spin
Republican narrative
The US immigration system is broken and this order protects the value of American citizenship. The voters returned Trump to office to stop the system from being gamed by people in the US illegally. Interpreting the Fourteenth Amendment correctly is a step in the direction of protecting American sovereignty.
Democratic narrative
Trump was not elected to unilaterally change the Constitution or overturn years of precedent. The 14th Amendment is unequivocal in its protection of the affected children from becoming stateless. This order would also put an undue burden on states that would lose federal funding for crucial programs.
