Second federal judge opposes Trump's order restricting birthright citizenship

At a hearing on Thursday, a federal judge indefinitely blocked the Trump administration’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. US District Judge John Coughenour strongly criticized the administration in his ruling, accusing President Donald Trump of making unlawful policy decisions. Judge Coughenour temporarily halted Trump’s order two weeks ago and issued his final decision on Thursday. A separate, near-identical injunction was also granted in Maryland on Wednesday.

“It has become ever more apparent that, to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. The rule of law is, according to his, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain,” said Judge Coughenour while announcing his ruling, per The Hill. “Nevertheless, in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow.”

In response to a plea from four Democratic state attorneys general and private plaintiffs, the judge agreed to issue a nationwide preliminary injunction that would block Trump’s executive order.

“I said this two weeks ago, and I’ll say it again today: There are moments in the world’s history when people look back and ask, ‘Where were the lawyers, where were the judges?’ In these moments, the rule of law becomes especially vulnerable,” Judge Coughenour said. “I refuse to let that beacon go dark today.”

Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office that restricts birthright citizenship to exclude children born in the United States to parents who do not have permanent legal status, also known as “anchor babies.” The directive is one of many immigration-related measures that the administration has taken in its first few weeks in office.

Several pregnant illegal immigrants are listed as plaintiffs in a Maryland lawsuit filed in January regarding the birthright citizenship EO. The Department of Justice defended the executive order titled, "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," last week, calling it "common sense."