In the United States, a federal judge yesterday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order denying US citizenship to the children of parents residing in the country illegally or on temporary visas. US District Judge John Coughenour issued a 14-day temporary block, calling it blatantly unconstitutional during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution promises citizenship to those born on US soil, a measure ratified in 1868 to ensure citizenship for former slaves after the Civil War. To curb unlawful immigration, President Trump issued the executive order on Monday just after being sworn in for his second term.
The order will deny citizenship to those born after the 19th of February whose parents are in the country illegally or on temporary visas. It also forbids US agencies from issuing any document or accepting any state document recognizing citizenship for such children.
President Trump’s order drew immediate legal challenges across the country, with at least five lawsuits being brought by 22 states and a number of immigrant rights groups. A lawsuit brought by Washington, Arizona, Oregon and Illinois was the first to get a hearing.
Judge Coughenour has scheduled a hearing onthe 6th of February to decide whether to block it long-term as the case proceeds.
The Department of Justice has said in a statement that it will vigorously defend the President’s executive order, which it said correctly interprets the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.