Relief for Indians in US: Federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order

Washington: A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting citizenship by birth in the United States.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Jon Coffenauer, places a 14-day restraining order on the policy, pending further legal review.

The order, which was to take effect on February 19, sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are not citizens or lawful residents.

This decision marks a significant legal setback for Trump’s attempt to redefine U.S. citizenship laws.

The policy was expected to impact hundreds of thousands of children, particularly those born to Indian nationals on temporary H1B or L1 visas.

Reports indicate a surge in requests for C-section deliveries from Indian women holding temporary visas to ensure their children are born before February 20, as those born before this date would automatically gain citizenship.

The U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, guarantees citizenship to all individuals born on U.S. soil. Trump’s order argued that children of non-citizens do not meet the criteria for life within the United States and, therefore, should not be granted citizenship.

However, legal precedents, including an 1898 Supreme Court case affirming the citizenship of a child born to Chinese parents in San Francisco, challenge this interpretation.

The court’s decision provides temporary relief to families affected by the proposed policy, with further legal developments expected in the coming weeks.