☕ What is Birthright Citizenship?

Good morning!

It’s nearing the end of Donald Trump’s first week in office as the 47th President, and it has been (by far) the most active first week by a President in the nation’s history, with 32 executive orders so far (including 26 on the first day). He’s now closing in on his yearly average from his first term in office.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

💰 In a virtual address to the World Economic Forum on Thursday, President Trump threatened to raise tariffs, urged NATO countries to increase their contributions, and indicated plans to expand American oil and gas production. Held annually in Davos, Switzerland, the WEF offers an opportunity to the world’s most powerful to discuss world issues. Concerns were raised when Trump stated he would mandate the USA's central bank to lower their interest rates, an action which policy experts fear would breach the political independence long maintained by the bank.

🏛️ Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth has narrowly passed the penultimate hurdle in the Senate confirmation process to become the next Secretary of Defense, with a vote of 51-49. The final vote, to be held on Friday evening, will conclude a months long nomination process marred by accusations against Hegseth of alcoholism, sexual assault, financial mismanagement and incompetence. Hegseth has denied all allegations. Two senate Republicans voted against Hegseth, with one stating Hegseth lacks the “experience and perspective” to be Secretary of Defence.

📁 The Department of Education has taken its first steps to roll back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives after President Trump introduced sweeping executive orders ordering the retracting of DEI policies across public service bodies. In a press release, the Department said it had archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports and training materials that include mentions of DEI, and cancelled roughly $2.6 million worth of contracts and training supply agreements.

⚓ British warships have confronted a Russian ‘spy ship’ off the UK coast, with the British Defense Minister accusing Russia of “mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure”. Russia said the ship is an ‘oceanic research vessel’ and reports of espionage are “absolutely baseless”. Underwater infrastructure is used for many essential services, primarily energy supply and the provision of the internet.

I’ve got 1 minute

On Thursday afternoon, President Trump ordered plans be developed within 45 days for the release of all remaining records relating to the deaths of President John F. Kennedy, civil rights activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr and 1968 Democratic presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy.

The assassinations

JFK, RFK and MLK were all assassinated within five years of each other between 1963 and 1968. Due to their high profile nature of these three men, conspiracy theories have surrounded all three high-profile deaths, but no official finding of any conspiratorial elements has ever been reached.

According to officials, these men were all assassinated by lone gunmen. For JFK and MLK, the motives are unknown, as JFK’s assassin died shortly after and MLK’s assassin maintains his innocence. RFK’s killer, a Christian Palestinian, killed him over his associations with Israel.

Will the documents actually be released?

Over five million documents relating to these assassinations were housed in the National Archive and Records Association in the early 1990s. Congress had mandated all documents were to be released by 2017, unless the President of the day took exception.

During his first term, Trump promised he would not take any exception to the document's release. But, after being petitioned by the CIA and FBI, Trump withheld some documents on national security grounds. During his term, Joe Biden released further documents and now only an estimated 3000 documents remain.

Whilst Trump’s executive order specifies a plan be put in place for the release of the remaining documents, researchers estimate that 500 documents were not subject to the original 2017 release mandate and are still unlikely to be able to be disclosed.

It is not known when any of the remaining documents will be actually released.

I’ve got 2 minutes

A judge in Washington has temporarily blocked President Trump’s push to stop some children from becoming citizens at birth. Trump plans to appeal the judge’s decision.

Under the Constitution, children born to parents who migrated to the country are granted citizenship as their ‘birthright’.

Citizenship includes access to civil rights, social services, and certain jobs.

Birthright

Birthright citizenship was established under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution in 1866.

The amendment was designed to let people who had been enslaved become citizens. Today, it means almost anyone born in the U.S. becomes a citizen, allowing them to vote and access social services.

It has been legally challenged in the past, and does not include some children, such as those born to diplomats representing other countries.

Executive Order

On the first day of his new presidency, Trump signed 26 executive orders.

These are Presidential directives for government departments to follow.

Earlier this week, Trump ordered an overhaul of birthright citizenship status for children who are born to:

(a) an “unlawfully” visiting non-citizen mother, and non-citizen father.

(b) a “lawful but temporary” visiting non-citizen mother, and non-citizen father.

Trump’s measure would bar anyone born to parents in this situation from receiving official citizenship documents, such as a U.S. passport.

The action was slated to take effect within 30 days and apply to anyone born in the U.S. under the order’s specified circumstances from that point.

Trump’s order described American citizenship as “a priceless and profound gift.” It argued birthright citizenship shouldn’t be extended to “everyone born within the United States”.

22 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) immediately took legal action to stop the order from coming into effect.

Legal challenge

One of the legal actions was jointly filed by four Democrat-led states: Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Arizona.

The legal action called Trump’s executive order “unquestionably unconstitutional”.

It said affected citizens would be “irreparably harmed,” deprived of access to basic rights, and left at risk of deportation.

Judge’s ruling

A federal court judge in the state of Washington, John C. Coughenour, approved the legal request to temporarily block Trump’s executive order.

It will be blocked for 14 days as the court considers further evidence and legality of the measure.

The judgement bars federal authorities, such as police and immigration officials, from enacting Trump’s measure.

Trump’s reply

In a press conference at the White House, Trump was asked about his response to the Washington judge’s ruling.

“Obviously we’ll appeal it,” Trump said.

Referring to Coughenour, Trump said: “There’s no surprises with that judge.”

Coughenor was appointed to the Federal Court by former Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1981.