Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jul 1: The US Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, while also upholding state laws barring transgender athletes from competing in women's sports and removing key federal limits on campaign finance spending.
The rulings came on the final day of the court's term and reflected the influence of its 6-3 conservative majority, which includes three justices appointed by Trump.
In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court ruled that Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship violated the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to almost everyone born on American soil, subject to limited exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats.
"Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights," Roberts wrote, adding that the Constitution's promise extends to every person born in the United States. "We keep that promise today."
Trump had signed the executive order on his first day back in office, directing federal agencies not to recognise the citizenship of children born in the US if neither parent was an American citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Reacting to the verdict, Trump called the ruling "too bad for our Country" and urged Congress to work towards ending birthright citizenship through legislation.
Civil rights groups welcomed the decision, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) describing it as a reaffirmation of a fundamental constitutional guarantee.
In another closely watched ruling, the Supreme Court upheld laws in West Virginia and Idaho restricting participation in girls' and women's sports to biological females.
The justices ruled unanimously that the state laws do not violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. By a 6-3 majority, the court also found that the measures do not breach the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, said states are entitled to determine eligibility for women's sports based on biological sex.
Trump hailed the ruling on social media, calling it a "BIG WIN" for women's sports.
The court also delivered a major campaign finance decision, ruling 6-3 that federal limits on coordinated spending between political parties and candidates violate First Amendment protections for free speech. The judgment is expected to benefit political parties ahead of the November midterm elections.
The decisions capped a consequential Supreme Court term marked by several significant rulings involving the Trump administration, including judgments on presidential authority, immigration, voting rights, gun laws and the powers of independent federal agencies.