Washington (USA), 27 September (LaPresse/AP) – The US administration has asked the Supreme Court to uphold President Donald Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, which states that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The appeal, reviewed by the Associated Press, initiates a process in the High Court that could lead to a final ruling by early next summer on the constitutionality of citizenship restrictions. Lower court judges have so far prevented them from taking effect. Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term in the White House that overturns more than 125 years of interpretation that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution confers citizenship on anyone born on American soil, with limited exceptions, such as the children of foreign diplomats. Birthright citizenship automatically makes anyone born in the United States an American citizen, including children born to mothers who are in the US illegally. The right was established shortly after the Civil War. The Trump administration has argued that children of non-US citizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore do not have the right to citizenship.

© Copyright LaPresse