Supreme Court limits judges, leaves birthright citizenship question unanswered

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Supreme Court issued the final rulings of its latest term Friday. The first ruling of the day was a blockbuster decision that affects federal judges nationwide and could forever alter the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.

The case, Trump v. Casa, Inc. was related to President Trump's executive order to rescind what has traditionally been accepted as the right of U.S. citizenship to everyone born in the United States.

While Friday's decision addressed birthright citizenship, it is essential to understand that the Supreme Court, in its 6-3 decision, did not rule on the merits or legality of the President's order.

In fact, during oral arguments before the court last month, government attorneys didn't argue for the constitutionality of ending birthright citizenship.

They argued that lower federal courts had overstepped their authority in issuing nationwide injunctions.

Three separate courts had found the order violated the law before litigation made its way to the highest court in the land.

In one of two dissenting opinions, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, “The gamesmanship in this request is apparent and the Government makes no attempt to hide it. Yet, shamefully, this Court plays along.”

Both the Trump and Biden administrations have argued, at different times, against nationwide injunctions.

When one court, no matter where it's located or who the parties are, prevents a law or executive order from being enforced.

The Trump administration and Republicans in Washington have been pushing to rein in these injunctions throughout the president's second term.

The President held a press conference Friday morning to celebrate the court's decision.

“Thanks to this decision, we can now promptly file to proceed with numerous policies that have been wrongly enjoined on a nationwide basis. And some of the cases we're talking about would be the ending birthright citizenship,” Trump said.

Birthright citizenship was passed by Congress in 1866 and ratified as the 14th Amendment to the Constitution in 1868.

Lower courts that issued nationwide injunctions now have to go back and make their rulings comply with Friday's decision. Challenges to the Executive Order will still be allowed to continue for the 22 states and other organizations that sued the Trump administration.

This doesn't mean that all nationwide injunctions will end, however. States that sue the government, or plaintiffs suing as part of a class-action lawsuit, may still get relief that applies across the country.

However, there's a strong probability the Department of Justice will again go back to the Supreme Court if it thinks those lower courts have gone too far.

The Trump administration also now has 30 days to come up with policies and procedures detailing how it would implement the Executive Order to end 14th Amendment protections.

The order would end birthright citizenship for those in the country illegally, as well as those in the country with legal status if they're only in the United States on a temporary basis, for instance, on a student visa.