Trump’s Supreme Court Appearance on Birthright Citizenship
President Donald Trump is set to make a noteworthy appearance at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, where he will observe as the justices deliberate on an executive order concerning birthright citizenship.
This is significant, as no sitting president has attended oral arguments at the high court before. Trump’s involvement highlights how vital he considers this case, which has the potential to upend over a century of legal precedent granting automatic citizenship to many babies born in the United States.
Accompanying him to the Supreme Court is Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“I’ve been hearing this argument for a long time, but this wasn’t about a Chinese billionaire or a foreign billionaire who suddenly had 75 children, or in one case 59 children, and 10 children became American citizens. This was a slave story,” President Trump remarked in an interview with Fox News’ Peter Doocy on Tuesday.
Supreme Court Revisits Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship
The core issue revolves around the 14th Amendment, which stipulates that anyone born in the U.S. and “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country is automatically a citizen. Trump has noted that this provision originated during the Civil War.
“It had to do with slave babies,” he explained. “It was not intended to protect millionaires and billionaires wanting their children to gain American citizenship. This is simply the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. They’ve been treated very badly by the legal community over the years.”
Implications of Trump’s Order
President Trump’s executive order modifies the interpretation of birthright citizenship. Under this order, infants born in the U.S. to noncitizens would automatically gain U.S. citizenship, except those born to foreign diplomats.
Lower courts have consistently dismissed Trump’s policies, issuing class action injunctions to block them.
Trump aims to address human rights abuses as part of his harsher immigration policies. This might also target foreign nationals who come to the U.S. primarily to give birth without the intent to settle legally.
The administration argues that the amendment might encourage illegal immigration by granting citizenship to children born to undocumented mothers.
Legal Arguments Expected
As the proceedings unfold, Trump will be attentive while Attorney General John Sauer presents arguments in favor of the president. Generally, only judges and lawyers involved in the case speak during oral arguments.
On the other side, attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union are prepared to dispute Trump’s executive order. The ACLU’s executive director has stated that they are ready to educate Trump on constitutional matters.
“Any effort to divert from the importance of this case will not succeed,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. “The Supreme Court continues its essential role in interpreting and defending the Constitution, even with a sitting president in close proximity.”
