US president's birthright citizenship order to face Supreme Court scrutiny in May

The United States Supreme Court has scheduled a rare oral argument for May 15 to address the legality of President Donald Trump's executive order, which seeks to restrict birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.

The executive order, issued on Trump's first day in office, proposes ending the automatic grant of US citizenship to children born on American soil to parents who are in the country illegally, Caliber.Az reports, per Turkish media.

Birthright citizenship has been a cornerstone of US law under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which automatically confers citizenship to anyone born in the country, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

The move to restrict birthright citizenship has been blocked by lower courts. District courts in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington issued injunctions to halt the enforcement of the order, and these rulings were upheld on appeal. Despite this, the Trump administration continues to push for the policy, arguing that the 14th Amendment should be amended to reflect a stricter approach to citizenship.

Supporters of Trump's plan, including the president himself, argue that the current policy incentivizes illegal immigration and that stricter citizenship standards are needed to protect US interests. Trump has previously referred to birthright citizenship as a "priceless and profound gift" that is being exploited by individuals seeking to take advantage of US law.

As the case progresses, the Justice Department contends that individual judges lack the authority to issue rulings that affect the entire nation. The forthcoming Supreme Court hearing will ultimately determine whether Trump's executive order can move forward, or if the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment will remain intact.

The outcome of the case could have significant implications for US immigration policy, potentially altering the scope of the 14th Amendment's protections. Until the Supreme Court hears arguments and issues its ruling, the injunctions issued by the lower courts will remain in effect, preventing the administration from implementing the controversial order.

By Vafa Guliyeva