00:00The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing opening arguments on Wednesday in President Donald Trump's historic bid to abolish birthright
00:08citizenship.
00:09The landmark case is a pillar of Trump's attempts to restrict immigration, and with it, looking to end what is
00:15a constitutional ray in the U.S. under the 14th Amendment.
00:19The Republican president broke protocol by choosing to attend the opening remarks in person, where he sat in the audience,
00:27a move unprecedented by any sitting president.
00:30He was present as a Solicitor General John Sauer presented the administration's arguments, but did not sit in as American
00:38Civil Liberties Union attorney Cecilia Wang presented the defense.
00:42I come out of the court today with the thought of my parents and so many of our parents and
00:51ancestors who came to this country seeking refuge, seeking new opportunities,
00:57and who relied on the rule that we've had in this country for 150 years, that everyone born here is
01:05a United States citizen, all alike.
01:07A crowd of protesters opposed to Trump's efforts to limit the ray also gathered outside the courthouse.
01:14If the Supreme Court chooses to overturn birthright citizenship after 158 years, then we would have to climb on top
01:25of that building and erase those words, equal protection under the law.
01:30We might as well replace it with gold letters that says Trump Court, not Supreme Court, Emperor's Court, King's Court.
01:39But today we come to say it's our court, it's the people's court.
01:45Trump signed an executive order following his return to office last year suspending birthright citizenship
01:50and move lower courts blocked until a Supreme Court decision was issued.
01:55The top U.S. court will now hear arguments over the coming months and is expected to hand down a
02:01ruling in early summer.
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