Kathmandu – The US Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that children born in the United States remain constitutionally entitled to birth right citizenship, dealing a major legal setback to President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict the long-established right.
In a ruling released, the court rejected Trump’s executive order that sought to deny automatic US citizenship to children born to parents living in the country illegally or on a temporary basis. The decision reaffirmed the interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, making it clear that such children cannot be deprived of citizenship.
The ruling was delivered by a 6-3 majority. Chief Justice John Roberts stated that children born in the United States to parents residing in the country unlawfully or temporarily are protected by the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment and are therefore entitled to birthright citizenship.
The Trump administration had issued the executive order with the aim of ending automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary residents. However, several federal courts had previously blocked the order from taking effect.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions across the United States. Latino civil rights organizations welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for the Constitution.
The League of United Latin American Citizens said the court had reaffirmed the constitutional principle that every child born on American soil is a US citizen.
With the latest ruling, the constitutional guarantee of birth right citizenship in the United States remains intact while the Trump administration’s effort to limit the right has suffered a significant legal defeat. Civil rights advocates have widely welcomed the decision.
