The US Supreme Court on Thursday heard its initial set of arguments on the issue of the executive order by President Donald Trump regarding birthright citizenship.
Executive Order of US President Sparks Legal Debate
The case is a result of the executive order that was issued by Trump on his inauguration day that would exclude children born on US territory to parents present in the country illegally or in the country on a temporary visa.
The executive order represents a significant shift in the 14th Amendment provision granting citizenship to individuals born in the U.S., with only a few exceptions.
The Supreme Court is considering emergency appeals by the Trump administration requesting permission to enforce the executive order in the majority of the U.S., at least pending lawsuits against the order.
Constitutionality Yet to Be Reviewed
Although the court is not currently considering the case about the order’s constitutionality, the justices are considering the possibility of restricting the power of individual judges to make rulings that have nationwide application.
Immigrants, rights organizations, and states brought suit soon after the executive order was signed to challenge it. Three judges have prevented the order from being enforced anywhere in the country, among them US District Judge John Coughenour, who termed it ‘blatantly unconstitutional’
Oral arguments were filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday, following which the court was adjourned.
After hearing the oral arguments, it is not impossible that the court might rule on this soon. The court usually wraps up the cases by June 30, so the same is expected.
Trump Defends Executive Order on Truth Social
In a lengthy posting on Truth Social on Thursday, US President Donald Trump stated that birthright citizenship was about the children of the emancipated slaves after the Civil War and not illegal immigration. He indicated that the argument needs to be made to the Supreme Court.
“Birthright Citizenship is about the babies of slaves. As conclusive proof, the Civil War ended in 1865, the Bill went to Congress less than a year later, in 1866, and was passed shortly after that. It had nothing to do with Illegal Immigration for people wanting to SCAM our Country, from all parts of the World, which they have done for many years. It had to do with Civil War results, and the babies of slaves who our politicians felt, correctly, needed protection. Please explain this to the Supreme Court of the United States,” Trump said.
