A judge in the US state of Washington has temporarily blocked’s push to limit birthright citizenship in the US. Trump plans to challenge the judge’s decision.
Under the U.S. Constitution, children born to parents who migrated to the country are granted citizenship as their ‘birthright’.
Citizenship includes access to civil rights, social services, and certain jobs.
Birthright
Birthright citizenship was established under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution – the country’s founding document – in 1866.
The amendment was designed to let people who had been enslaved become citizens. Today, it means almost anyone born in the U.S. becomes a citizen, allowing them to vote and access social services.
It has been legally challenged in the past, and does not include some children, such as those born to diplomats representing other countries.
Executive order
On the first day of his new presidency, Trump signed dozens of executive orders.
These are Presidential directives for government departments to follow.
Earlier this week, Trump ordered an overhaul of birthright citizenship status for children who are born to:
(a) an “unlawfully” visiting non-citizen mother, and non-citizen father.(b) a “lawful but temporary” visiting non-citizen mother, and non-citizen father.
Trump’s measure would bar anyone born to parents in this situation from receiving official citizenship documents, such as a U.S. passport.
The action was slated to take effect within 30 days and apply to anyone born in the U.S. under the order’s specified circumstances from that point.
Trump’s order described American citizenship asIt argued birthright citizenship shouldn’t be extended to “everyone born within the United States”.
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22 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) immediately took legal action to stop the order from coming into effect.
Legal challenge
One of the legal actions was jointly filed by four Democrat-led states: Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Arizona.
The legal action called Trump’s executive order “unquestionably unconstitutional”.
It said affected citizens would be “irreparably harmed,” deprived of access to basic rights, and left at risk of deportation.
Judge’s ruling
A federal court judge in the state of Washington, John C. Coughenour, approved the legal request to temporarily block Trump’s executive order.
The order will be blocked forand legality of the measure.
The judgement prevents federal authorities, such as police and immigration officials, from enacting Trump’s measure.
Trump’s reply
In a press conference at the White House, Trump was asked about his response to the Washington judge’s ruling.
“Obviously we’ll appeal it,” Trump said.
Referring to Coughenour, Trump said: “There’s no surprises with that judge.”
Coughenor was appointed to the Federal Court by former Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
