Washington, May 16 (H.S.): The US Supreme Court commenced hearings on birthright citizenship, which President Donald Trump sought to ban at the start of his second term in January. A decision from the Court is anticipated by June, addressing critical issues regarding presidential authority, judicial jurisdiction, and the 14th Amendment. This amendment ensures that every child born in the US is granted citizenship, even if their parents are in the country temporarily or illegally.

Following Trump’s ban, immigrant and civil rights organizations from around 20 Democratic-led states have contesting it in court, alleging it violates the Constitution. Federal judges in Maryland, Washington, and Massachusetts enacted a nationwide injunction against Trump’s order, prompting the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court. The recent hearing lasted around two hours, with the Court also deliberating on whether lower courts should be allowed to restrict government actions nationwide. The Trump administration contends that federal judges lack the authority to block federal policies based solely on a few lawsuits. Should the Supreme Court side with the administration, the order might be enforced in the remaining 28 states without legal challenges, potentially creating a fragmented system of citizenship. The justices’ varying opinions could extend the dispute, with the possibility of constitutional conflict. No clear signals emerged from the hearing as of now.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar