A US federal judge has blocked Donald Trump's executive order seeking to end automatic birthright citizenship, marking the second blow to the president's controversial policy.
Last month, the 78-year-old POTUS announced plans to end automatic birthright citizenship for children born in the States without at least one parent who is a lawful permanent resident or US citizen.
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During his official address at the time, Trump made his plans for immigration clear, promising that 'all illegal entry will be halted' and that millions of 'criminal aliens' will be deported.
How does birthright citizenship currently work in the US?
Currently, citizenship is issued to anyone born in the States regardless of their parents' citizenship - meaning everyone born on US soil immediately becomes a citizen of the country.
The first sentence of the 14th Amendment to the US constitution establishes the principle of birthright citizenship: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
So, what does Trump's new executive order do?
In short, it tries to make it so that children born in the US but without at least one parent who is a lawful permanent resident or US citizen are no longer automatically extended citizenship.
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It works by disallowing federal agencies from issuing or recognising documentation proving US citizenship for such children who meet that criteria in the US 30 days after the order was signed.
Trump's new measure - which he had hoped would come into effect on 19 February - forms part of his wider mission to undergo the 'largest deportation programme in history' in a bid to restore the 'Golden Age' of America.
Trump faces major roadblocks
Just days after the executive order was signed, Seattle district Court Judge John Coughenour branded Trump's latest immigration plan 'blatantly unconstitutional', and issued a 14-day restraining order (which ends today, 6 February, after which he'll hold another hearing).
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Trump's order was subsequently paused while an investigation takes place, with his administration having since declared they'll 'obviously' 'vigorously defend' their position on the matter, and will appeal to have it implemented.
However, a second judge - Maryland district Judge Deborah Boardman - has now backed the blockage of Trump's policy, making an important point about the current legislation being kept in place.
As per the BBC, Boardman ruled this week: "Today, virtually every baby born on US soil is a US citizen upon birth. That is the law and tradition of our country."
The federal judge added that Trump's plan runs 'counter to our nation's 250-year history of citizenship by birth', explaining: "The United States Supreme Court has resoundingly rejected the president's interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment.
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"In fact, no court in the country has ever endorsed the president's interpretation.
"This court will not be the first."
The judge made her ruling after two immigrant rights groups filed a lawsuit on behalf of five pregnant women, one of whom said in court afterwards that the decision will 'give mothers like me a bit of temporary relief as we navigate pregnancy and the uncertain future for our babies'.
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The unnamed woman added: "All I have wanted is to focus on my baby being born healthy and safe, but instead, even though my baby will be born in the US, I have been worried that they will be denied a right is that guaranteed under the constitution - the right to be a US citizen".
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Rhianna Benson