Highlights

  • Federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order
  • Judge deems Trump’s executive order unconstitutional
  • Liberal states secure victory against Trump’s agenda

Latest news

Pope Francis stable in hospital amid health concerns

Pope Francis stable in hospital amid health concerns

Poco M7 5G Review: A budget phone that gets the basics right

Poco M7 5G Review: A budget phone that gets the basics right

Varun Chakravarthy shines against New Zealand, credits Ashwin and Rohit Sharma

Varun Chakravarthy shines against New Zealand, credits Ashwin and Rohit Sharma

Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinals: A nostalgic 'Deja Vu' or a chance for 'redemption'?

Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinals: A nostalgic 'Deja Vu' or a chance for 'redemption'?

Congress reprimands spokesperson for remarks on Rohit Sharma

Congress reprimands spokesperson for remarks on Rohit Sharma

Indian national shot by Jordanian soldiers at Israel border

Indian national shot by Jordanian soldiers at Israel border

PM Modi embarks on Lion Safari at Gir National Park on World Wildlife Day

PM Modi embarks on Lion Safari at Gir National Park on World Wildlife Day

Uttarakhand CM Dhami highlights ongoing efforts to preserve the state’s cultural heritage

Uttarakhand CM Dhami highlights ongoing efforts to preserve the state’s cultural heritage

Federal judge blocks Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

A federal judge has ruled against President Trump’s controversial executive order attempting to limit birthright citizenship in the United States.

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Federal judge blocks Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

      A federal judge blocked Donald Trump's attempt to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States on Thursday as liberal states scored their first victory against the new president's hardline agenda.

      The ruling imposes a 14-day stay on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed in the hours after he was sworn into office for a second term.

      "This is a blatantly unconstitutional order," US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington state.

      "I've been on the bench for over four decades, I can't remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is," said Coughenour, who was appointed by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan.

      Trump told reporters his administration would "obviously" appeal the ruling, while the Department of Justice said it would defend the executive order, which a spokesman said "correctly interprets" the US Constitution.

      "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," the spokesman said.

      Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the US Constitution under the 14th Amendment which decrees that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.

      It says, in part: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

      Trump's order was premised on the idea that anyone in the United States illegally, or on a visa, was not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the country, and therefore excluded from this category.

      An incredulous Coughenour chided Justice Department attorney Brett Shumate over his assertion that Trump's order was constitutional.

      "Frankly, I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order," Coughenour said.

      "It just boggles my mind."


      - 'On a whim' -

      The ruling comes after a flurry of lawsuits filed by 22 states, two cities and numerous civil rights groups.

      It was hailed by states that took part in the legal actions.

      "No president can change the constitution on a whim and today's decision affirms that," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said.

      The ruling is "the first of many wins to come as my office fights instances of executive overreach and any illegal actions the new administration may take."

      Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said Trump's order was "un-American."

      "Birthright citizenship makes clear that citizenship cannot be conditioned on one's race, ethnicity or where their parents came from," he said after the ruling.

      "It's the law of our nation, recognized by generations of jurists, lawmakers and presidents, until President Trump's illegal action."

      Ted Lieu, a congressman from California said the matter was clear.

      "Birthright citizenship is as American as apple pie," he wrote on social media.

      "If you're born in America, you're a citizen."

      The legal challenge was no surprise, and Trump had acknowledged it was likely when he signed the order.

      He has repeatedly -- and wrongly -- asserted that the United States is the only country in the world with birthright citizenship; in fact more than 30 others also have it, including Canada and Mexico.

      Trump's opponents have argued that the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 as the United States sought to knit itself back together after the Civil War, has been settled law for over a century.

      They have cited an 1898 US Supreme Court ruling in the case of a San Francisco-born Chinese American man named Wong Kim Ark.

      Wong was denied entry back into the United States after visiting relatives in China on the grounds that he was not a citizen.

      The court affirmed that children born in the United States, including those born to immigrants, could not be denied citizenship.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Up Next

      Federal judge blocks Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

      Federal judge blocks Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

      Indian national shot by Jordanian soldiers at Israel border

      Indian national shot by Jordanian soldiers at Israel border

      Trump pushes tariff deadline on Mexico, Canada

      Trump pushes tariff deadline on Mexico, Canada

      Donald Trump shares AI video envisioning Gaza transformation, featuring golden statue and anthem

      Donald Trump shares AI video envisioning Gaza transformation, featuring golden statue and anthem

      Trump names Amy Gleason as acting head of controversial DOGE

      Trump names Amy Gleason as acting head of controversial DOGE

      US says Gaza ceasefire talks progressing as Hamas claims Israel agreed to prisoner exchange

      US says Gaza ceasefire talks progressing as Hamas claims Israel agreed to prisoner exchange

      ADVERTISEMENT

      editorji-whatsApp

      More videos

      Search for doomed MH370 resumes 11 years after disappearance

      Search for doomed MH370 resumes 11 years after disappearance

      Canada's updated visa rules could harm Indian workers, students

      Canada's updated visa rules could harm Indian workers, students

      Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif's bold pledge: surpass India economically

      Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif's bold pledge: surpass India economically

      Trump names Dan Bongino as deputy director of FBI

      Trump names Dan Bongino as deputy director of FBI

      Age-conscious millionaire Bryan Johnson embraces Indian cuisine

      Age-conscious millionaire Bryan Johnson embraces Indian cuisine

      Germany's Gen Z shift: rightward trend in upcoming elections

      Germany's Gen Z shift: rightward trend in upcoming elections

      Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director in senate vote

      Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director in senate vote

      India-UK boost financial ties: Sitharaman meets Sunak

      India-UK boost financial ties: Sitharaman meets Sunak

      Trump slams Zelensky, calls him a 'Dictator without elections'

      Trump slams Zelensky, calls him a 'Dictator without elections'

      Trump labels Tesla's India factory plan as 'Unfair' amid high tariffs

      Trump labels Tesla's India factory plan as 'Unfair' amid high tariffs

      Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.