On Friday, the Supreme Court limited the powers of federal judges to temporarily suspend the execution of President Trump's orders, marking a major victory for the administration, writes The New York Times. However, the judges did not rule on the constitutionality of the decision to revoke birthright citizenship and suspended the order for 30 days.
The decision, made by six votes to three, could radically change the procedure for granting citizenship in the United States, even if temporarily. This decision means that the practice of automatically granting citizenship to children of illegal immigrants born in the US, as well as some temporary residents and visitors, will be discontinued in 28 states that did not challenge this order.
The case on which the judges ruled on Friday arose from an order signed by Trump on the first day of his second term to review the principle of birthright citizenship, which has been part of the Constitution for over 150 years.
The ability of federal judges to suspend decisions nationwide, known as a nationwide judicial ban, is a controversial judicial tool. They have been used to block policies of Democrats and Republicans, as well as previous presidents.
Trump praised this decision, stating that «our country should be very proud of the Supreme Court today».
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who voted against, called the majority's decision a «parody of the rule of law». Progressive Democrats, human rights activists, and groups defending civil rights and immigrant rights called this decision a serious blow to a long-established constitutional right and stated that it would lead to the creation of a dangerous mosaic of rights across the country.
The Supreme Court's decision will lead to a sharp reduction in the ability of federal courts to control White House policy, including orders to suspend the dismissal of civil servants, halt foreign aid funding, and relocate transgender women in federal prisons to male cells.