The Supreme Court appeared unlikely to back Trump's effort to restrict birthright citizenship, based on questions posed by justices during arguments that stretched more than two hours on Tuesday.
Trump has signaled plans to issue an executive order that would challenge the longstanding principle that nearly all children born on U.S. soil automatically become American citizens. The case represents a fundamental challenge to how the nation has defined citizenship for generations.
During oral arguments, several justices expressed skepticism about the constitutional basis for such a restriction. Their questions suggested concern about the sweeping implications of narrowing birthright citizenship protections that have been a cornerstone of American law.
Public opinion runs firmly against the proposal. Most Americans support the existing rule granting automatic citizenship to those born in the country, according to polling data cited during the proceedings.
The executive order approach itself faced scrutiny from the bench, with justices questioning whether a president has the unilateral power to redefine citizenship rules that are rooted in constitutional language and decades of legal precedent.
The case underscores a broader debate about immigration policy and who is entitled to American citizenship. Trump has made restricting immigration a centerpiece of his political agenda, but birthright citizenship has remained largely uncontroversial across administrations until recently.
The court's decision could either affirm existing birthright citizenship protections or potentially allow the president to reshape them through executive action. Based on the tenor of Tuesday's arguments, a majority of justices appeared disinclined to support the restriction.
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