A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to redefine birthright citizenship, a policy that guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. The order, signed on Inauguration Day, faced immediate legal challenges from multiple states and civil rights groups.

Judge John Coughenour described the order as “blatantly unconstitutional,” stating, “I cannot remember another case where the question presented was as clear.” This order could affect those born in the country, especially children of non-citizen parents. Legal experts widely agree that the president does not have the unilateral power to change this long-standing constitutional right, which is rooted in the 14th Amendment.

Currently, lawsuits have been filed by 22 states and immigrant rights groups, including a prominent case from Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. These lawsuits argue that his executive action violates the constitutional guarantees upheld for over a century. The 14th Amendment asserts that all individuals born in the U.S. are citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

The ruling comes in light of statistics revealing that approximately 255,000 U.S.-born children had mothers living illegally in the country in 2022. If implemented, Trump's order intended to deny citizenship automatically to any child born in the country if their parents were not citizens or lawful permanent residents.

“Stripping children of the ‘priceless treasure’ of citizenship is a grave injury," said one attorney involved in the litigation, addressing the potential long-term impacts of the order. In a significant moment, Coughenour expressed his bewilderment at the justification of the order presented by the Justice Department, questioning their legal basis thoroughly.

The ruling offers a temporary reprieve while litigation progresses, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks. As the legal landscape evolves, the outcome of these cases could set critical precedents regarding citizenship rights in the United States. Legal experts, lawmakers, and advocates are already preparing for what could become a protracted legal battle, one that may ultimately reach the Supreme Court if disputes continue.

For more detailed updates, you can refer to the original articles from VOA, HuffPost, BBC, and AP News.