Supreme Showdown: Trump's Birthright Citizenship Directive Under Scrutiny

President Donald Trump attended a Supreme Court session to hear arguments about his directive to limit birthright citizenship. The court evaluated the legality of not granting citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their parents are neither citizens nor permanent residents. The decision could impact 250,000 births annually.

In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump attended a session of the Supreme Court on Wednesday to listen to arguments regarding his controversial directive aimed at curbing birthright citizenship in the United States. The directive, which seeks to prevent granting citizenship to children born on U.S. soil if their parents are neither American citizens nor legal permanent residents, could upend longstanding interpretations of the 14th Amendment.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts engaged the Trump administration's lawyer with challenging queries, scrutinizing the legal foundation of excluding certain groups from birthright citizenship. The appeal, following a lower court's blockage of Trump's executive order, seeks judicial endorsement of a policy critics deem as discriminatory. Demonstrators outside the courthouse echoed concerns, with placards denouncing the president's stance.

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer defended the directive by highlighting global practices and arguing that automatic birthright citizenship acts as a magnet for illegal immigration. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of Trump could redefine citizenship rights and affect birth certificates nationwide. The decision, expected by June, remains highly anticipated amid ongoing debates about constitutional interpretations and historical precedents.

(With inputs from agencies.)