A federal judge in Seattle has stopped an executive order by President Donald Trump that aimed to end birthright citizenship in the United States. The decision temporarily stops the policy for 14 days while the court examines the case further.

What is birthright citizenship?

Birthright citizenship means that any child born in the United States automatically becomes a US citizen, no matter their parents' immigration status. This is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which has been in place since 1868. The rule came after the Civil War to protect the citizenship rights of all people born in the US.

President Trump has long opposed this law. On his first day back in office, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies not to grant citizenship to children born in the US if neither parent is a citizen or legal permanent resident.

Judge calls Trump’s order ‘Blatantly unconstitutional’

US District Judge John Coughenour said the executive order violated the 14th Amendment and called it "blatantly unconstitutional." He criticised the Justice Department’s defence, saying:

“I am having trouble understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this order is constitutional. It just boggles my mind.”

The legal challenge against Trump’s order was brought by four states: Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon. These states argued that the order went against the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment.

Why does this matter?

Legal experts explained that the 14th Amendment ensures citizenship for anyone born on US soil. This has been interpreted consistently for over 100 years, including in an 1897 Supreme Court decision, United States v. Wong Kim Ark. That decision confirmed that children born in the US to non-citizen parents are still US citizens.

If Trump's policy went into effect, more than 150,000 newborns each year would lose their citizenship. These children would not have Social Security numbers, government benefits, or legal access to jobs when they grow up, explained Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola.

“Babies being born today don’t count as US citizens,” Polozola said during the hearing.

Trump’s argument for the policy

Trump has always argued that birthright citizenship encourages illegal immigration. His administration believes that people come to the US illegally to give birth, so their child automatically becomes a citizen. This is often referred to as an "anchor baby" practice by critics.

The Justice Department lawyer, Brett Shumate, said the order was part of Trump’s broader effort to reform immigration and reduce public costs. Shumate called the judge’s decision to block the order “wildly inappropriate.”

Congress steps in

While Trump’s executive order is now on hold, Republican lawmakers in Congress are supporting similar ideas. A group of 36 Republican members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill to restrict citizenship only to children of US citizens or lawful permanent residents. They aim to make this rule law to avoid legal challenges in the future.

Trump's efforts to end birthright citizenship have faced significant resistance from Democrats, legal experts, and human rights groups. Many believe the move contradicts the US Constitution and long-established laws that define what it means to be an American citizen.

The temporary restraining order marks the first legal hurdle for Trump’s new immigration policies. The case will continue in court as both sides prepare for a deeper legal battle over the future of birthright citizenship in America.