US Supreme Court agrees to hear case challenging birthright citizenship
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on upholding the century-old constitutional right to guaranteed citizenship for those born in the United States.
On his first day in office in January, President Donald Trump signed an order ending the citizen’s birthright, but the move was blocked by lower courts after being challenged for its constitutionality.
The Supreme Court’s final decision will either uphold or end the citizenship rights of children of migrants who are in the United States illegally or on temporary visas.
Next, the justices will set a date to hear oral arguments between the government and the plaintiffs, who include immigrant parents and their children.
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has established the principle that everyone born in the country is a U.S. citizen, with exceptions for children born to diplomats and foreign military forces.
The language of the amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States. »
Trump’s executive order sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the United States illegally or on temporary visas.
The United States is one of around 30 countries – mainly located in the Americas – that automatically grant citizenship to anyone born on their territory.
