A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order redefining birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional” during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order.
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00:00We came to the courthouse today to defend the United States Constitution,
00:05to defend democracy in America, and to defend what it means to be an American citizen.
00:12We are thrilled that the court saw the seriousness and the urgency of the complaints
00:19and requests for a temporary restraining order brought by the state of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Illinois,
00:25and are thrilled that the judge issued a temporary restraining order
00:29directing the United States government to take no further action
00:33in enforcing and implementing the unconstitutional and un-American executive order
00:38attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship in America.
00:41This is step one, but to hear the judge from the bench say that in his 40 years as a judge
00:47he has never seen something so blatantly unconstitutional
00:51sets the tone for the seriousness of this effort.
00:54This is fairly obvious. This is fairly simple.
00:58This has been expressly determined by the United States Supreme Court,
01:02and Congress and multiple executives have looked at it and agreed.
01:05And so I was not surprised to see Judge Kuhnauer sort of dismiss the absurdity of the order
01:12and the absurdity of the president's action.
01:14This order effectively forces states to prepare for the effective day of that order,
01:18has an impact now, and more importantly created a cloud of uncertainty
01:23for children being born here and in Seattle, all across Washington, and all across the country.
01:29And so the urgency by which we moved was effective and appropriate and supported by the court.
01:34We'll take one step at a time, but I see no reason why in a court of appeals
01:39or even the United States Supreme Court would reach a different decision that was reached today.