🔗 Share this article America's top judicial body agrees to hear lawsuit disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US. The top court has will hear a pivotal case that questions a historic guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States. On day one in office this winter, the administration signed an order aiming to halt the policy, but the order was subsequently blocked by lower courts after lawsuits were initiated. The Supreme Court's final decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify the provision altogether. Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which involve immigrant parents and their young children. A Constitutional Cornerstone For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and personnel of occupying armies. "Anyone born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." The disputed presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas. The United States is one of about a minority of states – primarily in the North and South America – that grant immediate citizenship to anyone born within their borders.
The top court has will hear a pivotal case that questions a historic guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States. On day one in office this winter, the administration signed an order aiming to halt the policy, but the order was subsequently blocked by lower courts after lawsuits were initiated. The Supreme Court's final decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify the provision altogether. Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which involve immigrant parents and their young children. A Constitutional Cornerstone For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and personnel of occupying armies. "Anyone born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." The disputed presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas. The United States is one of about a minority of states – primarily in the North and South America – that grant immediate citizenship to anyone born within their borders.