A federal judge has issued a ruling blocking former President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. The judge, appointed by President Reagan, called the executive order “blatantly unconstitutional” and expressed disbelief that any legal expert could defend it as a lawful directive.
US District Court Judge John Coughenour called Trump’s executive order “blatantly unconstitutional” and issued a restraining order blocking it from going into force after a 25-minute hearing on Thursday.
The executive order sought to eliminate the automatic right to citizenship under the 14th Amendment for children born on U.S. soil to parents who are not U.S. citizens or legal residents. The ruling halts the administration’s attempt to alter a longstanding constitutional interpretation.
The judge questioned the legal basis of the order, emphasizing that any challenge to the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship at birth would require an act of Congress or a constitutional amendment, not an executive order. This decision aligns with previous legal interpretations and signals a significant setback for attempts to alter birthright citizenship through executive action.
This ruling adds to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration policies and affirms the importance of the 14th Amendment in safeguarding citizenship rights in the U.S.
