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US Judge Blocks Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Amid Flurry of Controversial Executive Actions
A U.S. federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
The order, set to take effect in February 2025, was blocked on January 23, 2025, following its announcement earlier in the week. This marked the first significant legal challenge of Trump’s second term, which began with his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The judge, whose name has not yet been released in the public filing, stated that the injunction was necessary to allow a full legal review of the order’s constitutionality.
Birthright citizenship is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.”
Legal experts have criticized the order, with many calling it an overreach of executive power.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been among the most vocal opponents, filing the initial lawsuit. In a statement, ACLU Director Nadine Strossen said, “This attempt to undermine the Constitution’s clear guarantees of citizenship is both unlawful and dangerous. We will fight it every step of the way.”
Trump, speaking to Fox News on January 22, defended his decision. “We’re standing up for the American people,” he said. “This isn’t about the Constitution; it’s about fairness and stopping abuse of our system.”
The injunction came amid a series of high-profile moves by Trump. On January 22, he pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists, some of whom had been convicted of blockading reproductive health clinics and intimidating staff and patients.
These pardons were issued just one day before the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., where Trump is scheduled to address attendees via video link later today, January 24.
Pro-choice groups heavily criticized the pardons. Emily’s List, an organization dedicated to electing pro-choice women, called the pardons “a blatant disregard for justice and women’s rights.”
In addition, Trump ordered the declassification of files relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. According to White House officials, the files are set to be released within the next week.
Trump claimed the move was about “bringing transparency to history,” but critics have questioned the timing, suggesting it may be an effort to divert attention from his controversial domestic policies.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump commented on trade relations with China, stating, “I’d rather not impose tariffs on China right now,” despite previously threatening massive new tariffs during his campaign. He also joked that “Canada could become a U.S. state to avoid tariffs,” a remark met with mixed reactions.
Trump is visiting North Carolina and California, two disaster-hit states, on his first domestic trips since taking office for his second term.
