SUMMARY

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?

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. What does the executive order signed by Trump on his first day back in office say about birthright citizenship?
2. Who are Amy Howe and Amanda Frost, and what are their backgrounds?
3. What was the Trump administration's argument about birthright citizenship?
4. How does the 14th Amendment establish birthright citizenship in its text?
5. 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?

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