In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. The order, signed on January 20, 2025, sought to deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil to non-citizen parents. Judge Coughenour labeled the order as "blatantly unconstitutional," referencing the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States. ([BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3605g34jx5o?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The executive order was scheduled to take effect in February 2025. However, it faced immediate legal challenges from eighteen states, including Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Arizona, which filed lawsuits arguing that the order violated constitutional rights. ([BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vdnlmgyndo?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Judge Coughenour's temporary restraining order halts the enforcement of the executive action for at least 14 days, providing time for further legal examination. This period allows the court to consider the substantial constitutional questions raised by the plaintiffs.
The 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause has long been interpreted to confer citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status. Legal experts have consistently maintained that altering this interpretation would require a constitutional amendment, not an executive order.
This legal battle underscores the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and the scope of executive authority. As the case progresses, it is anticipated that it may advance to higher courts, potentially reaching the Supreme Court, given its profound implications for constitutional law and civil rights.
The temporary block on the executive order maintains the status quo, ensuring that children born in the United States continue to receive automatic citizenship, as has been the practice for over a century. The administration's response to this judicial decision remains to be seen, as the nation closely watches the unfolding legal proceedings.
- [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3605g34jx5o?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vdnlmgyndo?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn0y51z7wedt?page=2&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
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