US Judge Rules Citizenship Order Unconstitutional 

United States: A federal judge in Seattle has ruled against an executive order that sought to restrict birthright citizenship, calling it unconstitutional and an attempt to bypass legal protections for political purposes. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, expanded a temporary injunction into a permanent nationwide ban, prompting applause in the courtroom, as reported by Reuters. 

“To our president, the rule of law is merely an obstacle to his policy goals,” said Coughenour. “He sees it as something to be navigated around or ignored for personal or political gain.” 

Legal Challenge and Federal Response 

Lawmakers from Washington together with three other states and pregnant women sought legal intervention to defend birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment against the executive order. 

United States agencies received an executive order on January 20 which established a directive to bar citizenship from children born since February 19 whose parents lacked United States citizenship status. The administration filed an appeal after the ruling yet the White House administration chose not to provide any assessment of the decision. 

Judicial Pushback Across the Country 

This marks the second nationwide injunction issued against the order, following a Maryland judge’s ruling earlier in the week. Judges in Boston and New Hampshire are set to rule soon, with cases backed by Democratic state legislatures and immigrant rights groups. 

The Justice Department contends that the plaintiffs misinterpreted the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which has long upheld birthright citizenship. Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign argued that their legal interpretation was “demonstrably and unequivocally incorrect.” 

However, Judge Coughenour dismissed these claims, stating: 

“No amount of policy debate can change that.” 

He emphasized that the executive order attempted to strip U.S. citizenship rights by bypassing constitutional amendments through unilateral action. 

Defending the Rule of Law 

In past times when the courts became inactive Judge Coughenour stated his dedication to abide by legal principles: 

People often ask in history about the absence of lawyers as well as judges at crucial times. Where were the judges?’ The most precarious period exists for the rule of law during these times. Today I will not surrender the guiding light of our system to darkness, as reported by Reuters. 

When he initially blocked the order on January 23, Coughenour had already made his stance clear: 

“In over four decades on the bench, I have never seen a case where the question of constitutionality is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.” 

With multiple court challenges ahead, the fight over birthright citizenship is far from over, but this ruling marks a significant legal victory for constitutional protections.