A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at rescinding birthright citizenship. Senior U.S. District Judge John Coughenour declared the order unconstitutional, stating, \"This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.\" The temporary restraining order halts the enforcement of Trump's directive nationwide for at least 14 days as multiple lawsuits proceed across the country.
Attorney General Nick Brown of Washington labeled the executive order as an \"unconstitutional, un-American and cruel … attempt to redefine what it means to be an American.\" The order sought to deny citizenship to approximately 150,000 babies annually whose parents do not have citizenship or permanent residency, particularly those born to parents in the country illegally. Critics argue that the executive order challenges over a century of legal precedent established by the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
The decision comes after Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Arizona, and 18 other states joined lawsuits in an effort to block the measure. The Trump administration maintains that the 14th Amendment excludes children of non-resident aliens from birthright citizenship if their parents are in the country illegally, asserting that such children are not \"subject to the jurisdiction\" of the United States.
As legal battles continue, the future of birthright citizenship in the U.S. remains uncertain, sparking widespread debate on constitutional rights and immigration policies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
