President Trump's recent executive order denying citizenship rights to children of undocumented immigrants faces significant legal hurdles in federal court.
According to AP News, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order Thursday blocking Trump's executive order nationwide, declaring it "blatantly unconstitutional" during a heated hearing in Seattle.
The contentious order, signed by Trump immediately after his second-term inauguration on Monday, sparked widespread opposition from 22 states and numerous immigrant advocacy groups.
Five separate lawsuits have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the directive, with Washington state leading the initial legal challenge alongside Arizona, Oregon, and Illinois.
The legal battle centers on the 14th Amendment's guarantee of birthright citizenship, ratified in 1868 to ensure citizenship rights for former slaves after the Civil War. The amendment explicitly states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens, regardless of their parents' status.
Critics of Trump's order argue that the president lacks constitutional authority to determine citizenship criteria. State attorneys general warn that implementing the order would render affected children stateless and strip them of fundamental rights to participate in economic and civic life.
The Department of Justice has vowed to mount a vigorous defense of the executive order. However, Judge Coughenour's swift and decisive reaction during Thursday's hearing suggests an uphill battle for the administration.
The temporary restraining order remains in effect for 14 days, during which both sides will submit additional legal arguments. A crucial hearing scheduled for February 6 will determine whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would block the order long-term while the case proceeds.
Other legal challenges are gaining momentum across the country. CASA, a Mid-Atlantic immigrant rights organization, will present their case in Maryland federal court on February 5. Meanwhile, New Jersey leads 18 states, the District of Columbia, and San Francisco in another lawsuit, while the Brazilian Worker Center pursues separate legal action in Massachusetts.
Judge Coughenour expressed unprecedented clarity about the case's constitutional implications, stating:
I've been on the bench for over four decades. I can't remember another case where the question presented was as clear as this one is.
Coughenour, an 84-year-old Reagan appointee with over four decades of experience on the federal bench, has earned a reputation for independence and tough jurisprudence. His extensive legal career includes handling high-profile cases like the "millennium bomber" Ahmed Ressam.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown endorsed the judge's strong stance, emphasizing the apparent constitutional flaws in Trump's order. The Justice Department maintains its commitment to defending the directive, stating:
We look forward to presenting a full merits argument to the Court and to the American people, who are desperate to see our Nation's laws enforced.
President Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants has encountered its first major legal obstacle in federal court. Judge Coughenour's temporary restraining order halts the directive's implementation nationwide for two weeks, with a crucial hearing scheduled for February 6 to determine longer-term injunctive relief. As multiple lawsuits progress through federal courts, the constitutional battle over presidential authority to modify citizenship rights continues to intensify.
