A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that a former executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship in the United States violates the Constitution.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the order issued by President Donald Trump conflicts with the Fourteenth Amendment.
The executive order, signed during Trump’s presidency, sought to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to children born in the country if their parents were undocumented immigrants. Legal challenges quickly followed, and the order was blocked from taking effect prior to the court’s decision.
In its ruling, the 9th Circuit stated that the Fourteenth Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. The court noted that this includes individuals who are subject to U.S. laws and authority, regardless of parental immigration status.
The court’s decision maintains the injunction preventing enforcement of the executive order. It confirms that federal agencies cannot deny citizenship based on the immigration status of a child’s parents.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the administration plans to appeal the ruling. She stated that the administration believes the court misinterpreted the Constitution and expects the Supreme Court to review the case.