A federal Seattle judge blocked the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order rescinding birthright citizenship on Thursday, January 23.
“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Senior District Judge John Coughenour said.
Prompted by four Democratic-led states—Washington state, Illinois, Oregon, and Arizona—Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order preempting the order’s implementation.
The order has come under fire since being signed by the Republican President on his first day in office, with five lawsuits filed by civil groups and 22 Democratic-led state attorneys.
“Under this order, babies being born today don't count as U.S. citizens,” Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola told Coughenour.
Trump, on the other hand, said he will be making an appeal.
“We’ll appeal it. They put it before a certain judge in Seattle, I guess. Right? And there's no surprises with that judge,” he said.
The lawsuit, assigned to Coughenour, is making quicker progress than the other four cases. He may deliver a verdict from the bench after hearing arguments, or write the ruling ahead of February 19, when the order is set to take effect, said a news source.
Should the order be carried out, infants born on and after February 19 to parents who are neither US citizens or lawful permanent residents would be liable for deportation and will be unable to attain Social Security numbers, other government benefits, and work legally.
