Fri Jan 24 02:10:14 IST 2025: ## Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to End Birthright Citizenship

**Seattle, WA** – A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship in the United States. Judge John Coughenour of the District Court in Seattle called the order “blatantly unconstitutional,” stating he couldn’t recall a case with such clear constitutional violations.

The executive order, signed earlier this week as part of a broader immigration crackdown, aimed to restrict the automatic granting of citizenship to anyone born within U.S. borders, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment. The Trump administration argued that the amendment did not intend to cover children of undocumented parents and that birthright citizenship incentivizes illegal immigration. They further instructed the Social Security Administration to deny Social Security cards to children born after February 19th, 2024, if either parent lacks citizenship or legal residency. This would leave affected children vulnerable to deportation and limit access to essential government services.

The order faced immediate legal challenges, with at least five lawsuits filed by a coalition of states and civil rights groups, including the ACLU. Thursday’s ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by four states – Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. The judge’s swift action highlights the widespread concern over the potential ramifications of the executive order, which threatened to affect children born to both undocumented and legal immigrants.

The Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship for over a century, interpreting the 14th Amendment to grant citizenship to all persons born within U.S. territory and subject to its jurisdiction. The U.S. is one of approximately 30 countries worldwide that practice birthright citizenship, a policy originally enacted following the Civil War to extend citizenship rights to formerly enslaved African Americans. The legal battle over the Trump administration’s order is expected to continue.

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