U.S. President Donald Trump appeared at the Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday as justices heard arguments over the legality of his directive to restrict birthright citizenship. The policy, a key element of his broader immigration crackdown, seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the United States if their parents are neither citizens nor lawful permanent residents. Demonstrators gathered outside the court, voicing strong opposition to the move.
The case comes after lower courts blocked the executive order, ruling that it violates the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which has long been interpreted to guarantee citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil. Challengers, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the issue was settled in the landmark 1898 ruling United States v. Wong Kim Ark. However, the administration contends that citizenship should apply only to children of those with permanent allegiance to the United States.
The outcome of the case could have sweeping implications, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of births annually and reshaping long-standing constitutional interpretation. The Supreme Court, which currently holds a conservative majority, is expected to deliver its ruling by June, in what could become one of the most consequential immigration decisions in recent U.S. history.
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