Exploring Executive Influence on Judicial Review and Impacts on Birthright Citizenship

Three different federal judges have issued nationwide blocks to President Trump's executive order to deny U.S. citizenship to some babies born to immigrants in the U.S.

These court orders are called universal injunctions.

But when the case reached the Supreme Court, the administration didn't focus on the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.

Instead, government lawyers put most of their energy into arguing that universal injunctions themselves are unconstitutional.

And on Friday, in a 6-3 decision on ideological lines, the Supreme Court agreed — limiting the power of lower courts and lifting a key restraint on the Trump administration.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy