Thu Jan 23 19:23:20 UTC 2025: ## Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to End Birthright Citizenship

**Seattle, WA –** A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship in the United States, issuing a temporary restraining order that applies nationwide. Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, called the order “blatantly unconstitutional” during a hearing on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon, one of five lawsuits filed by 22 states and immigrant rights groups challenging the executive order. The lawsuits argue that the order violates the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to those born in the U.S. The plaintiffs included personal testimonies from attorneys general who are U.S. citizens by birthright and pregnant women fearing their children will be denied citizenship.

President Trump stated his administration will appeal the ruling. The Justice Department argued that the states lacked standing to sue and that no harm had yet occurred. They also clarified that the executive order, signed on Inauguration Day and slated to take effect February 19th, only applies to children born after that date. The order could affect hundreds of thousands of births annually.

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens.” The Trump administration contends that children of non-citizens are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction. This interpretation contrasts with the 1898 Supreme Court case, *United States v. Wong Kim Ark*, which affirmed the birthright citizenship of a child born to Chinese immigrants.

Attorneys General, including Connecticut’s William Tong, have personally linked their citizenship to the case, emphasizing the potential harm to American families. The lawsuits cite the case of “Carmen,” a non-citizen living in the U.S. for over 15 years, who fears her child will be denied citizenship.

The temporary restraining order halts the implementation of the executive order until further legal proceedings. The appeal process is expected to continue, raising significant questions about the future of birthright citizenship in the United States.

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