Supreme Court Hears Arguments About Birthright Citizenship
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about birthright citizenship. What’s at stake, and how could the decision impact immigration and constitutional rights?
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, a cornerstone of immigration policy enshrined in the 14th Amendment and affirmed by the Supreme Court more than 100 years ago. But now the justices are reexamining the policy. Ali Rogin discussed the legal debate with Amy Howe and Amanda Frost.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
Warm-Up Questions
- What does the executive order signed by Trump on his first day back in office say about birthright citizenship?
- Who are Amy Howe and Amanda Frost, and what are their backgrounds?
- What was the Trump administration's argument about birthright citizenship?
- How does the 14th Amendment establish birthright citizenship in its text?
- Why would the rules that the Trump administration is trying to create be difficult to put in place, according to Amy Howe?
Essential Questions
- Why do you think President Trump decided to visit the courtroom during the hearing of this case, becoming the first sitting president at a Supreme Court hearing?
- After watching this segment, how do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case?
Media literacy: In this segment, the producers play a short exchange that includes Chief Justice Roberts saying, "It's a new world, but it's the same Constitution." What do you think Roberts meant by this? Why do you think this was the one audio exchange included by producers of the segment?
What Students Can Do
How does birthright citizenship work? Watch the following video from the Dispatch for an explainer. Then, as a class, discuss:
- What is the origin of birthright citizenship?
- What is the essential disagreement about the text of the 14th Amendment?
- What questions do you still have about how people become citizens? How could you find out more?
The Supreme Court: Balancing the Branches Lesson Plans
Share My Lesson has free, tailored preK-12 resources to ensure your students leave your classroom equipped with a deeper knowledge of civics and government to think critically about today's toughest issues.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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