The Trump administration has petitioned the US Supreme Court to allow enforcement of its executive order ending birthright citizenship, arguing that lower courts have overstepped by issuing nationwide injunctions blocking the policy.
In emergency appeals filed Thursday, according to a report on CNN, the administration contended that these rulings had halted a critical immigration measure and urged the justices to limit their impact.
US President Donald Trump signed the executive order on January 20, his first day back in office, initiating a process to end automatic citizenship for children born in the US if their parents lack legal immigration status.
Under the policy, only children whose fathers are US citizens or lawful permanent residents would be granted birthright citizenship if their mother is in the country unlawfully or on a temporary visa.
Federal courts swiftly intervened. As per the CNN report, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington courts issued injunctions blocking implementation at the request of more than 20 states, two immigrant rights groups and seven individual plaintiffs.
On January 23, US District Judge John Coughenour in Seattle ruled that the order was “blatantly unconstitutional” and blocked its implementation. Soon after a Maryland court also halted the policy, with the judge stating it contradicted more than two centuries of legal precedent.
On February 5, US District Judge Deborah Boardman reinforced these rulings, stating that no court has endorsed the Trump administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
The Trump administration has now argued that these rulings wrongly prevent the government from enforcing immigration laws and maintaining national security.
CNN reports that the Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to at least narrow the scope of the lower court injunctions, allowing the order to take effect in cases not directly involved in ongoing litigation.
The Supreme Court is now expected to set a rapid briefing schedule, requiring responses from opposing parties within days.
Also read: Trump moves to end birthright citizenship: What it means for Indians and more | Explained
