A federal judge in Seattle has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order on birthright citizenship. The ruling, made on January 23, 2025, effectively halts the implementation of the order that sought to limit automatic citizenship for certain categories of individuals born in the United States.

Key Points of the Ruling

• U.S. District Court Judge John C. Coughenour granted the TRO requested by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon.
• The 14-day restraining order went into effect at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2025.
• The judge found that the plaintiff states were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the executive order violates the Fourteenth Amendment and the Immigration and Nationality Act1.

Grounds for the Decision

Judge Coughenour cited several reasons for granting the TRO:

1. Irreparable Harm: The court determined that the plaintiff states would face irreparable injury without the order, including loss of federal funding and increased costs for providing essential services to affected residents1.
2. Constitutional Concerns: The judge noted a strong likelihood that the plaintiffs would succeed in proving the executive order violates the Fourteenth Amendment, citing precedents such as United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)1.
3. Public Interest: The court found that the balance of equities and public interest strongly favored issuing the TRO1.

Implications of the Ruling

The TRO prevents the federal government from:

• Enforcing Section 2(a) of the executive order, which defined the new limitations on birthright citizenship.
• Implementing Sections 3(a) and 3(b), which outlined enforcement measures1.

This ruling represents a significant setback for the Trump administration’s attempt to redefine birthright citizenship and sets the stage for further legal battles.

Reactions to the Decision

The ACLU, which had filed a separate lawsuit against the executive order, welcomed the decision. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, had previously stated, “Denying citizenship to U.S.-born children is not only unconstitutional — it’s also a reckless and ruthless repudiation of American values”2.

Next Steps

The TRO will remain in effect pending further orders from the court. The plaintiff states are expected to file a motion for a preliminary injunction, which would extend the ban on implementing the executive order beyond the initial 14-day period.