AG Nessel on Federal Judge Blocking President Trump’s Executive Order to Limit Birthright Citizenship

LANSING – Yesterday, Judge Coughenour for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order to limit birthright citizenship.

Judge Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, noted, “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.”  

Yesterday’s order applies nationwide. Meanwhile, the case Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, alongside 17 other states, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, filed earlier this week, is pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Following Judge Coughenour decision, Attorney General Nessel issued the following statement: 

“I’m relieved that my Democratic attorneys general colleagues were able to secure a quick and decisive early victory in our sister case challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional effort to strip American citizenship from 150,000 children born annually in the United States, including approximately 6,000 Michiganders. This illegal and un-American attempt to undermine constitutional rights is a direct assault on our democratic values. As Attorney General, I cannot and will not sit idly by while this administration blatantly attempts to violate federal law and the United States Constitution. As long as I hold this office, I will continue to defend the rights, liberties, and freedoms of all Michigan residents.” 

While Attorney General Nessel and her colleagues await an official ruling on their case, Judge Coughenour’s order temporarily halts the Trump administration from implementing its executive order until the preliminary injunction hearing on February 6th, 2025, at 10 am.