U.S. Judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order

A federal judge in Seattle has blocked an executive order by Donald Trump. The order aimed to limit automatic birthright citizenship in the United States. US District Judge John Coughenour called the order “clearly unconstitutional.” He issued a temporary restraining order after four Democrat-led states challenged the policy.

The order was signed by Trump on his first day in office. It proposed denying automatic citizenship to children born in the US if neither parent was a citizen or a legal permanent resident. The judge stated that this order violates the Constitution. He criticized the Justice Department lawyer for defending the policy.

The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil. Civil rights groups and attorneys general from 22 states filed lawsuits against the order. They argued that the order breaches constitutional rights.

Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola spoke during the hearing. He said babies born in the US under this policy would not be recognized as citizens. The Justice Department defended the order. They described it as a way to handle immigration challenges and border issues.

The judge expressed disbelief at the arguments supporting the policy. He questioned how anyone could claim the order was constitutional. He called the reasoning behind it mind-boggling.

The court’s decision has halted the enforcement of the order. This has sparked debates about immigration and citizenship rights in the US. Many believe the order undermines the core principles of the Constitution.

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