EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 The Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case that could redefine birthright citizenship in the United States. <\/p>\n
This follows an executive order from January aiming to clarify the 14th Amendment’s clause on citizenship. <\/p>\n
The amendment currently states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”<\/p>\n
The outcome could significantly impact the estimated 2.1 million unauthorized immigrants residing in Texas, according to the Pew Research Center.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Texas’ new congressional maps are in the middle of a legal battle<\/a><\/p>\n Local officials have weighed in on the matter. <\/p>\n Michael Aboud, chairman of the El Paso Republican Party, expressed support for the change, stating, “They’re going to look at the policies that they’ve been using in order to give citizenship to people who don’t necessarily earn it.” <\/p>\n He emphasized the importance of respecting U.S. laws and processes, saying, “But we want them to respect our country, follow our laws, come here with respect, come through the checkpoints so that we know you’re here. Be a good person. Become a good citizen.”<\/p>\n On the other side, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, argued for the preservation of birthright citizenship. <\/p>\n “It should be a very easy answer. There are decades and decades of established law around this citizenship question,” she said.<\/p>\n Escobar expressed concern about the Supreme Court’s willingness to uphold the Constitution, particularly in cases involving President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n “But I have to tell you, I am always concerned with this Supreme Court that has been absolutely unwilling to uphold the law or the Constitution when it comes to Donald Trump,” she added.<\/p>\n The case is expected to be heard in the spring, with a ruling anticipated by early summer. <\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: Border czar Tom Homan speaks at Turning Point USA conference at UTEP<\/a><\/p>\n