A federal judge has temporarily stopped President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to babies born to parents who are not legal permanent residents or citizens. Judge John Coughenour issued a 14-day temporary block on Thursday. He called the order a clear violation of the Constitution. This ruling represents a significant setback for one of President Trump’s initial executive actions, which has ignited national discussions about birthright citizenship.
The judge’s decision followed quickly after legal challenges were presented, which argued that the order directly went against the 14th Amendment. This amendment generally provides citizenship to anyone born within the United States. There are very few exceptions to this rule. However, President Trump’s order aimed to change this interpretation of the amendment. It sought to limit citizenship only to babies born to U.S. citizens and those with Green Cards. The government defended the order, saying it was necessary to address perceived problems within the current system.
The temporary block means that for the next two weeks, the government cannot enforce President Trump’s order. The future of the order is unclear. One lawyer involved in the case stated that this action is a “blatant attempt to rewrite the Constitution.” The Justice Department has already indicated they will appeal the ruling. This sets the stage for a potential legal battle that could eventually be decided by the Supreme Court. Consequently, this case could have long-lasting effects on immigration policy and the definition of American citizenship. The debate over U.S. citizenship is expected to continue in the courts and within politics.