US Supreme Court sets date for oral arguments on Trump’s executive order to restrict birthright citizenship
President wants to end birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants
HOUSTON, United States
The US Supreme Court on Thursday scheduled a rare May oral argument to address President Donald Trump's executive order that would restrict birthright citizenship.
Under Trump's order, issued on inauguration day, birthright citizenship would end for children born to illegal immigrants.
US district courts in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington issued injunctions to halt the order in every state and the three rulings were upheld on appeal.
Birthright citizenship automatically makes anyone born in the US an American citizen, including children born to mothers who are in the country illegally. The right is part of the Constitution's 14th Amendment.
Trump's plan will remain blocked until the nation's highest court hears arguments May 15. Depending on how the Court rules, the 14th Amendment could be altered accordingly.
Trump and his supporters have argued that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen, with the president calling it "a priceless and profound gift."
Judges have uniformly ruled against the administration, but the Justice Department argues that individual judges lack the power to give nationwide effect to their rulings.
