Washington, June 28
The US Supreme Court ruled that district judges lack the authority to grant nationwide injunctions against the Trump administration's executive order to effectively end birthright citizenship.
In a 6-3 vote along ideological line, Supreme Court justices granted a request by the Trump administration to narrow the scope of nationwide injunctions imposed by district judges, news agency reported.
"Federal courts do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch," Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the majority, noting that "When a court concludes that the executive branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too."
However, the three liberal justices issued dissents to the decision.
"Children born in the United States and subject to its laws are United States citizens," Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, adding "that has been the legal rule since the founding."
"The gamesmanship in this request is apparent and the Government makes no attempt to hide it," she noted. "The majority ignores entirely whether the President's Executive Order is constitutional, instead focusing only on the question whether federal courts have the equitable authority to issue universal injunctions."
The Trump administration quickly applauded the Supreme Court's decision.