The Trump administration is seeking Supreme Court approval for restrictions on birthright citizenship, aiming to deny citizenship to individuals born in the U.S. after a specified date if their parents are in the country illegally. Despite legal challenges, including blockades by district judges in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, the administration persists in its efforts. Birthright citizenship, a longstanding constitutional guarantee granting automatic American citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., is rooted in the 14th Amendment post-Civil War.

President Trump advocates for stringent citizenship standards, criticizing birthright citizenship as unique to the U.S. and potentially exploitable. The president’s executive order underscores his stance on reforming the citizenship process. Legal experts highlight the formidable constitutional protections of the 14th Amendment, making the overturning of birthright citizenship complex.

Trump’s long-standing opposition to birthright citizenship and the debate surrounding its implications for illegal immigration remain contentious. Critics argue that ending birthright citizenship could have far-reaching repercussions, potentially challenging the citizenship status of all Americans. The legal dispute centers on the jurisdictional scope of federal judges’ orders, with the Justice Department contending that nationwide injunctions exceed judicial authority. The Supreme Court’s conservative justices have expressed concerns over such broad injunctions, although a definitive ruling on this issue is pending.