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US President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP/dpa
Keystone
A court has handed US President Donald Trump his first legal defeat after just a few days in office. A judge in the state of Washington blocked the Republican's attempt to restrict the right to US citizenship by birth in the country ("birthright citizenship") for certain groups. According to US media reports, Judge John C. Coughenour declared that the corresponding ordinance was "blatantly unconstitutional". Following a lawsuit filed by several states against the Trump administration, he issued a temporary injunction.
The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution states that people born in the United States are citizens of the country. However, Trump argues that this does not apply if the mother was in the USA illegally or only temporarily at the time of birth. He refers to a subordinate clause in the amendment, which states that the law only applies to people who are subject to US jurisdiction.
Decree on the first day
Shortly after his inauguration, the Republican signed a decree to restrict automatic citizenship. In response, several states and civil rights organizations filed lawsuits. The cases are likely to go through several instances and possibly end up before the US Supreme Court. During Trump's first term in office, the Supreme Court moved significantly to the right due to several appointments. The Supreme Court has so far made no distinction on the issue of whether the parents were in the USA legally or illegally.
23.01.2025, 20:10
