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A federal judge said Thursday that President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship was “blatantly unconstitutional” and issued a temporary restraining order to block it.
CNN reports that Judge John Coughenour granted the request by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and three other Democratic-led states for the emergency order halting implementation of the policy for the next 14 days while there are more briefings in the legal challenge.
“I have been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented was as clear,” Coughenour said.
“Where were the lawyers” when the decision to sign the executive order was made, the judge asked. He said that it “boggled” his mind that a member of the bar would claim the order was constitutional.
The Democratic-led states are seeking a temporary restraining order, as they argue that Trump’s executive order is a blatant violation of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all children born on US soil “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
An attorney for the state of Washington, Lane Polozia told the judge that “births cannot be paused” while the court considers the case.
