The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected President Donald Trump’s urgent request to reinstate his executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States. Trump had signed this order upon returning to office, aiming to restrict birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and those with temporary visas. However, the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, ensures that any child born on U.S. soil automatically receives citizenship, which contradicted Trump’s executive order.

The legal dispute began on January 23, when U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary block on the executive order. On February 5, another federal judge, Deborah Boardman, upheld this halt, prompting the case to escalate to the appeals court.

On Thursday, the 9th Circuit ruled that birthright citizenship is a constitutional right that cannot be altered by presidential authority. Judge Danielle Forrest, who was appointed by Trump, stated that the Justice Department failed to demonstrate an emergency that justified immediate court intervention. She further explained that the administration had not shown a solid legal foundation for its case.

The lawsuit, brought by Democratic attorneys general from four states, was led by Washington. Following the ruling, the Trump administration may now seek to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court for further consideration.