US Supreme Court gives a big blow to Trump: Decision to ban birthright citizenship stayed, what will be the next steps?

New Delhi, April 18, 2025: The US Supreme Court has given a big blow to President Donald Trump's plan to ban birthright citizenship. The court has temporarily stayed Trump's executive order, which proposed to end the practice of automatically granting citizenship to children born in the US to non-citizen parents. The Supreme Court has announced a hearing on the matter on May 15, 2025, which has deepened the controversy. This decision is intensifying the debate on global immigration policies and the US Constitution. Let us understand this development with facts.

Trump's citizenship order and court action

After taking the oath of office as President on January 20, 2025, Trump issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship. The aim of this policy was to change the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which grants citizenship to everyone born in the US. Trump argued that this policy encourages illegal immigration and harms American interests.

However, on January 23, 2025, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily stayed the order. After this, the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal in the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the decision of the lower courts. On April 18, 2025, the Supreme Court announced that it would hear the case next month, but the stay on the order will remain in place until then. The court also said that it would consider whether the lower courts have the right to impose a nationwide ban on the President's policies.

Court's technical focus

The Supreme Court clarified that it would not immediately decide whether Trump's order is constitutional or not. Instead, the court's focus is on a technical question: Do lower court judges have the authority to impose a nationwide injunction on the president's policies? The Trump administration argued that such a ban weakens the power of the executive branch. The Supreme Court's decision could set a precedent for judicial intervention on presidential policies in the future.

Public and opposition reaction

The decision has sparked sharp reactions in the US. Democratic lawmakers and pro-immigration groups called it a "constitutional victory". Attorneys general from 22 states had filed a petition against the order, calling it against the Constitution. Seattle Judge John Coughenour said during the hearing, "How can this order be constitutional?"

#TrumpVsCourt and #USCitizenshipCase are trending on social media. A user wrote on X, "Trump's policy was an attack on the Constitution. The Supreme Court's decision is in the right direction." At the same time, Trump supporters called the court's decision "judicial extremism." "We will win this case because it is in the interest of America," Trump said at a rally on April 18.

India and the global context

The decision is also important for countries like India, where many people hope to settle in the US and get citizenship for their children born there. This is "good news" for India because the implementation of Trump's policy could have harmed families of Indian origin. The Indian government has not yet made any official statement, but the Ministry of External Affairs has said that it will keep an eye on immigration policies.

Historical background

The right to birthright citizenship was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 1898, which also extended this right to children of immigrants. Trump argues that this policy is not relevant in modern times because it promotes illegal immigration. However, constitutional experts say that a Constitutional Amendment is necessary to change the 14th Amendment, not just an executive order.

Future prospects

The Supreme Court hearing will be held on May 15, 2025, and its decision will determine the future of Trump's immigration policies. If the court limits the authority of lower courts, the way may be cleared for the implementation of Trump's policy. At the same time, if the court declares the order unconstitutional, it will be a big setback for the Trump administration. Analysts believe that this case can go on in the court till 2026.

Conclusion

The US Supreme Court's decision to stop Trump's order on birthright citizenship is an important event, which intensifies the debate on constitutional powers and immigration policies. This stay is a temporary setback to Trump's "America First" policy, but the final decision is yet to be made. Will Trump be able to fulfill his intention in this matter, or will the court protect the Constitution? This question will be clear only after the hearing on May 15.