Appeals court denies Trump's bid to pause ruling blocking birthright citizenship order

A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday denied the Trump administration's bid to pause a lower court ruling that blocked the president's executive order seeking to terminate birthright citizenship.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined an emergency request from the Justice Department that sought to pause a lower-court judge's order. Four separate judges have blocked the order, but Wednesday's decision marks the first time an appellate court has weighed in on President Trump's attempt to deny the constitutional right, an issue that could end up before the Supreme Court. 

One of the judges on the three-judge panel said in a concurring opinion that the administration had "not made a 'strong showing that [they are] likely to succeed on the merits' of this appeal." The judge also noted emergency relief was not warranted, and that such relief should only be granted on rare occasions.