The Supreme Court will hear arguments next month on whether President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship can take effect. Justices announced Thursday they’ve scheduled the high-profile case for May 15, following months of legal challenges from multiple states.
Trump signed the order on his first day in office, aiming to deny automatic citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants and temporary visa holders.
Federal judges in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington blocked the policy, issuing nationwide injunctions that halted implementation. The Trump administration has appealed, arguing those rulings were too broad and should only apply to individuals directly affected in each case.
Trump’s order challenges the modern interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which some argue has been twisted to allow birthright citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil. Left-leaning courts have so far sided with activist groups instead of enforcing immigration laws. If upheld, the president’s policy could finally close a major loophole that’s encouraged illegal immigration for decades.
No court has sided with the administration so far. If upheld, the policy could impact hundreds of thousands of U.S.-born children each year.