Chicago – February 08, 2025
In a major victory for Indian students and professionals living in the United States on visas and waiting for green cards, a federal judge in Seattle has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship.
The court criticized the order, stating that Trump was attempting to bypass the law for political purposes.
US District Judge John Coughenour’s decision is the second significant legal setback for Trump’s attempt to change immigration laws. A similar ruling was made by a judge in Maryland just days before.
Judge Coughenour explained that Trump’s actions were an attempt to ignore the rule of law, which should be followed in all cases. “The rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow,” the judge said during a hearing in Seattle.
He emphasized that the Constitution cannot be used for political games, and if the government wants to change birthright citizenship, it must amend the Constitution.
The judge’s new ruling extends a previous temporary block against Trump’s order. This nationwide preliminary injunction follows a similar decision by US District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, and both rulings will stay in effect while the legal case continues.