Supreme Court to Review Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order
The US Supreme Court has agreed to examine the legality of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that seeks to end birthright citizenship. The controversial order, which was swiftly challenged in court, asserts that children born in the US to undocumented or temporarily-stationed parents are not American citizens. The decision to review the order follows rulings by lower courts that deemed it unconstitutional.
Background and Context
Trump signed the executive order on his first day back in office in January, as part of his administration's broad crackdown on immigration. The order is intended to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, which declares, 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.
The order has been met with intense criticism, with over 22 U.S. states and several immigrants' rights groups filing lawsuits against the Trump administration to block the change to birthright citizenship.
Key Developments
The Supreme Court's decision to hear the case represents a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the order. The Court is expected to hear oral arguments early next year, and a ruling is anticipated by June. The case is seen as a high-profile one, with potential wide-ranging implications for millions of Americans and lawful U.S. residents.
According to sources, the Justice Department appealed a lower court's ruling that blocked Trump's executive order, prompting the justices to take up the case. The lower courts had ruled that the order violated the Constitution, a point of contention that the Supreme Court will now review.
Implications and Reactions
The order, if upheld, represents a fundamental shift in the understanding of a 19th-century constitutional provision and would affect a significant number of U.S. residents. The change is seen as a contentious part of Trump's efforts to curb immigration and has been described as both unprecedented
and unconstitutional
by critics.
Trump has defended his position, highlighting Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
, which grants the president authority to restrict immigration when it is deemed detrimental
to national interest. Critics, however, argue that the Supreme Court needs to impose limits on the administration's actions, citing the potential for abuse of power.
Current Status
As of now, the order remains blocked due to the lower court rulings. The Supreme Court's decision to review the order is expected to bring the contentious issue to the forefront of national attention once more. The upcoming review is set to be a significant event in the ongoing narrative surrounding immigration and citizenship in the United States.