A federal judge has granted Washington state's request for a preliminary injunction against the president's executive order on birthright citizenship. This decision prevents the federal government from denying birthright citizenship to children of immigrants while Washington's lawsuit proceeds.
The hearing, part of a multistate lawsuit filed on January 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, included Oregon, Arizona, and Illinois as co-plaintiffs. The case was combined with another suit by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project representing two expecting mothers and others potentially affected by the order.
"Our argument is simple and true — birthright citizenship is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution," stated Attorney General Nick Brown. "The president may not care about the Constitution or the rule of law, but we do."
The complaint argues that President Trump's executive order breaches both the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. If implemented, it would impact thousands of newborns in Washington each year, potentially stripping them of their constitutional right to citizenship.
President Trump is accused of overstepping his legal authority with this order, which could negatively affect many residents in Washington state if enforced. The state relies on federal funding for various programs supporting health and welfare, which might be compromised by this executive action.
Washington's legal team includes Wing Luke Civil Rights Division Chief Colleen Melody and Assistant Attorneys General Lane Polozola, Daniel Jeon, Alyson Dimmitt Gnam, along with Paralegals Tiffany Jennings and Anna Alfonso. Representing individual plaintiffs are Matt Adams, Leila Kang, Glenda M. Aldana Madrid, and Aaron Korthuis from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.