Reagan-Appointed Judge BLOCKS Trump’s Order to End Birthright Citizenship, Issues Scathing Statement

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Judge John C. Coughenour issued an order temporarily blocking President Donald Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship on Thursday.

“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” wrote Coughenour, who appointed to his position by former President Ronald Reagan.

The order from Coughenour, a U.S. District Court judge out of Washington, comes just days after Trump signed an executive order on Monday to end birthright citizenship. The policy is part of his larger plan to overhaul immigration law and push through mass deportations.

After Trump signed his order, multiple states brought forth a case arguing birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, which states in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

Trump and his team have argued that the system has been abused.

While signing the executive order, which was supposed to go in effect next month, Trump acknowledged there could be a legal challenge, but called birthright citizenship “ridiculous.”

“We’re the only country in the world that does this with birthright as you know,” he said. “And it’s just absolutely ridiculous.”