🔗 Share this article The nation's highest court will review legal challenge disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US. The US Supreme Court has decided to review a landmark case that questions a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States. On his first day in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to end the policy, but the move was struck down by federal courts after lawsuits were filed. The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will nullify those rights altogether. Next, the court will set a time to hear arguments between the government and claimants, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their young children. A Constitutional Cornerstone For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the principle that anyone born in the nation is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of foreign military forces. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." The challenged presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas. The United States is one of about three dozen nations – largely in the Americas – that award automatic citizenship to all those born on their soil.
The US Supreme Court has decided to review a landmark case that questions a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States. On his first day in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to end the policy, but the move was struck down by federal courts after lawsuits were filed. The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will nullify those rights altogether. Next, the court will set a time to hear arguments between the government and claimants, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their young children. A Constitutional Cornerstone For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the principle that anyone born in the nation is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of foreign military forces. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." The challenged presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas. The United States is one of about three dozen nations – largely in the Americas – that award automatic citizenship to all those born on their soil.