President Donald Trump arrived at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday as justices began hearing arguments in a major case that could reshape how citizenship works in America.
The case focuses on whether children born in the United States should automatically be granted citizenship, even if their parents are in the country illegally or on temporary visas.
Trump’s presence is unusual sitting presidents rarely attend oral arguments and it highlights just how important this case is.
At the center of the dispute is an executive order Trump signed on his first day back in office.
The order aims to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the US to undocumented or temporary residents.
Supporters of the move argue it’s necessary to address what they see as growing concerns around immigration, including so-called “birth tourism” — where people travel to the US to give birth so their child becomes a citizen.
But critics strongly disagree. They say the order goes against the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which clearly states that anyone born in the United States is a citizen. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, have challenged the policy in court.
During the hearing, government lawyers argued that easy access to citizenship could encourage more undocumented immigration. But some justices pushed back, noting that while times may have changed, the Constitution has not.
A final decision isn’t expected immediately, but the court is likely to rule later this year — a decision that could have far-reaching consequences for immigration and citizenship in the United States
