US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's citizenship executive order

The Supreme Court has struck down an executive order aimed at limiting the ability of children born in the US to immigrants and tourists to become US citizens. The Supreme Court justices voted 6 to 3 in favor of birthright citizenship. The decision, described as the biggest legal defeat of US President Trump's second term, rejected his attempt to prevent children of immigrants and tourists born on US soil from automatically acquiring US citizenship.

In the ruling penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, it was stated that children born in the US to those present illegally or with temporary status are "citizens at birth" under the Constitution. Noting that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution was adopted after the Civil War to resolve the citizenship issue of former slaves born in the US who had gained their freedom, Roberts wrote, "Citizenship meant then, and it means now, that people have rights and the right to participate freely in our society. The framers of the 14th Amendment extended that promise to every individual born free on this soil."

Trump, who argued that the Constitution, which defines everyone born in the US as a US citizen, was being misinterpreted, claimed that the relevant clause was only adopted to solve the citizenship problem of the children of slaves, but that it is currently being exploited by irregular migrants and tourists who give birth in the US to obtain US citizenship for their children.

On the other hand, the nine justices on the country's highest judicial body were unwilling to overturn 150 years of US judicial precedent and reinterpret long-standing federal laws and the relevant amendment to the US Constitution.

"Very bad for our country"

US President Trump gave his first reaction to the decision in a statement shared on his social media account. Trump said, "This is a very sad situation for our country. But, as has become clear in this process, we can easily rectify this with a law to be passed in Congress with the President's support. There is no need for a long and complicated constitutional amendment. Congress should start working immediately today to end the practice of birthright citizenship, which is costly and unfair to our country. I will give them my full and unconditional support."

Described the decision as a "victory for China"

In another post on his social media account, Trump sarcastically described the court's decision as a "victory for China." Trump said, "I would like to congratulate Chinese President Xi and his great country, China, on their massive victory regarding birthright citizenship."