Will Trump’s Executive Order End Birthright Citizenship?

The Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments Wednesday in a case challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship, with a majority of justices appearing unconvinced the move is constitutional.

At the heart of the case is the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all persons born on American soil. Trump’s order seeks to exclude children born to undocumented immigrants and some temporary visitors, with his administration arguing the change is necessary to curb illegal immigration.

But several justices pushed back hard. Chief Justice John Roberts questioned how the government could justify excluding such a large group of children from citizenship. While Justice Elena Kagan argued the administration was seeking to undo a legal tradition stretching back to English common law, one the 14th Amendment was specifically written to preserve.

Trump attended the oral arguments in person, a rare move for a sitting president, and after leaving the court, took to social media, writing that the U.S. was “the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship”.

Thousands of Belizean families have ties to the United States, and many have relatives who were born on U.S. soil and hold American citizenship as a result. A ruling that narrows birthright citizenship could affect future generations with similar circumstances.

A decision is expected in June.