Trump says he will appeal federal judge's decision to temporarily block birthright order

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump’s executive order redefining birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional”. The decision came during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order.

US District Judge John Coughenour repeatedly interrupted a Justice Department lawyer during arguments to ask how he could consider the order constitutional. When the attorney, Brett Shumate, said he’d like a chance to explain it in a full briefing, Coughenour told him the hearing was his chance.

The temporary restraining order sought by Arizona, Illinois, Oregon and Washington was the first to get a hearing before a judge and applies nationally.

The case is one of five lawsuits being brought by 22 states and a number of immigrant rights groups across the country. The suits include personal testimonies from attorney generals who are US citizens by birthright, and names pregnant women who are afraid their children won’t become US citizens.

Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, grilled the DOJ attorneys, saying the order “boggles the mind.”

“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Coughenour told Shumate. The judge said he’s been on the bench for more than four decades, and he couldn’t remember seeing another case where the action challenged so clearly violated the constitution.

Shumate said he respectfully disagreed and asked the judge for an opportunity to have a full briefing on the merits of the case, rather than have a 14-day restraining order issued blocking its implementation.

Immigration attorneys believe Trump may be trying to end birthright citizenship as a deterrent to combat illegal migration.

“I think the theory that the Trump administration has is that if