A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order that sought to eliminate birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented migrants or those with temporary status in the United States. Judge John C. Coughenour of the Federal District stated that the measure is 'manifestly unconstitutional.'
'In more than four decades in court, I do not recall a case as clear as this. Trump's order proposed that the children of undocumented persons or those with temporary legal status, such as work visas, would not be eligible for U.S. citizenship.'
If implemented, this measure would have prevented the State Department from issuing passports to such children and the Social Security Administration from recognizing them as citizens, limiting their access to basic rights and their ability to work legally in the country.
A total of 22 states, led by Democratic governments, filed a lawsuit against the presidential decree. In response, Judge Coughenour issued a temporary ruling suspending the measure for a period of 14 days, during which more legal challenges could be presented.
Trump's decree is part of his strategy to harden immigration policies during his administration. 'This is clearly an unconstitutional order,' stated Coughenour, who was appointed judge in 1981 by former President Ronald Reagan.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution establishes that any person born in U.S. territory automatically obtains citizenship, regardless of their parents' immigration status. The measure drew widespread criticism from legal sectors and human rights activists, who argue that it represents a direct attack on a right protected by the Constitution.
For now, the future of birthright citizenship in the United States depends on upcoming court rulings, as the debate continues to escalate in the political and legal realms.
