A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to redefine birthright citizenship, deeming it “blatantly unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge John Coughenour made the ruling following a lawsuit filed by four Democratic-led states: Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon. The judge's decision joins a collective effort involving 22 states and various immigrant rights groups, who argue that the executive order contravenes the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

Trump’s executive order, signed shortly after his inauguration, was slated to take effect on February 19. It aimed to strip automatic citizenship from children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents or to non-resident parents on temporary visas, a move that critics argue undermines a fundamental constitutional right. Trump stated, “Obviously we’ll appeal it,” referring to the ruling by Coughenour, who challenged the constitutionality of the executive order direly, questioning how the administration could claim it was lawful.

Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, emphasized his bewilderment regarding how the order was deemed constitutional, given his long tenure on the federal bench. Under the proposed order, children could face immediate vulnerabilities like deportation due to their defined status as non-citizens.

Proponents of the executive order argue it is necessary to address immigration-related challenges at the U.S. southern border, with the Justice Department labeling it a key part of their immigration policy. The ruling comes amid multiple legal challenges, including actions from civil rights organizations which have been vocal about the executive order's potential to create a subclass of citizens without rights.

According to the ongoing lawsuits, denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. may affect as many as 150,000 newborns annually, undermining their legal standing and accessibility to social services. The long-standing principle of birthright citizenship, rooted in the Constitution, has remained intact since the aftermath of the Civil War, serving as a conduit for many children to attain rights as citizens.

The multiple suits are expected to continue through the legal system, with the potential for the Supreme Court to ultimately decide the fate of birthright citizenship. This issue is critical as it encompasses various facets of immigration and constitutional law, testing the interpretations of existing legal frameworks.

As the litigation continues, communities are left grappling with uncertainty regarding the future of birthright citizenship in the U.S.

For further updates on this unfolding legal battle, see AP News and NPR.