From PBS NewsHour.

President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. has been quickly met with legal challenges.

Birthright citizenship in the U.S., since 1898, has been relatively unconditional, according to the Constitution. If you are born on U.S. soil, you are an American citizen.

The executive order aims to change that, removing birthright citizenship from children born to mothers “unlawfully present in the United States,” and whose father is not “a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident.” Additionally, birthright citizenship would not extend to a child whose mother’s status in the U.S. is “lawful but temporary.”

Just as quick as Trump issued the order, lawsuits were filed to stop it from both state attorneys general and immigrant advocacy groups alike, halting the order as multiple court cases take place.

PBS News’ Tim McPhillips spoke with Georgetown University Law School Professor Stephen Vladeck on five things to know about birthright citizenship, from its history, its exceptions and what the Trump administration is arguing to defend the order.

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