Seattle Judge Issues Second Indefinite Block on Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

A federal judge in Seattle has issued a significant ruling, indefinitely blocking President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents without legal immigration status. This decision marks the second consecutive ruling against the administration on this matter in just two days.

U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour’s nationwide preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order he issued two weeks prior, which paused any actions by the Trump administration aimed at revoking birthright citizenship. He emphasized the importance of the rule of law, stating, “In this courtroom, and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow.”

The judge’s recent ruling builds on a lawsuit initiated by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, and counterparts from Oregon and Illinois. Mayes characterized the ruling as a victory for the Constitution, asserting it protects the fundamental right to birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.

In a related development, a federal judge in Maryland also granted an injunction blocking the administration’s efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship. This decision came following a lawsuit filed by two nonprofit organizations working with immigrants, alongside five pregnant women.

A hearing for another case involving 18 states is scheduled for Friday, as additional legal battles over the executive order continue to unfold. Legal experts anticipate that these injunctions may remain in place until a resolution is reached, likely escalating to the U.S. Supreme Court due to its constitutional implications.

During a prior court hearing, Coughenour criticized the Trump administration’s legal rationale, labeling the president’s order as “blatantly unconstitutional.” The judge has since combined the lawsuits from the states with an additional case filed by pregnant women in Washington lacking legal immigration status. Meanwhile, 18 Republican-led states are advocating for the enforcement of the president’s order.

Trump’s executive action aimed to eliminate birthright citizenship for children born to parents who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, proposing to take effect on February 19. According to the 2022 statistics cited in Washington’s lawsuit, approximately 153,000 babies were born in the U.S. to parents without legal immigration status, with about 4,000 of those births occurring in Washington state.

Attorneys representing Washington argue that if birthright citizenship is revoked, these children will still require state services, which could lead to significant financial repercussions for states reliant on federal funding for these services. As established by the 14th Amendment in 1868, birthright citizenship has maintained legal precedent for over a century.