Supreme Court hears oral arguments about birthright citizenship

UPDATE (12:48 PM) The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday morning on President Donald Trump's push to limit birthright citizenship.

Several justices expressed skepticism about the executive order at issue, which upends the traditional understanding of the constitution's 14th Amendment known as the citizenship clause.

The government argued the 14th Amendment only applies to people "domiciled" in the United States, which Solicitor General John Sauer interpreted as those with permanent residency.

President Trump attended the hearing, a first for a sitting president, but he left early, after about 90 minutes of arguments.

Cecillia Wang, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney leading the challenge to the executive order, says she's confident the court will strike it down.

"I come out of the court today with the thought of my parents and so many of our parents and ancestors who came to this country seeking refuge, seeking new opportunities, and who relied on the rule that we've had in this country for 150 years, that everyone born here is a United States citizen, all alike.

I am confident that the court is going to turn back this President's effort to radically rewrite our 14th Amendment rule of birthright citizenship. I want to thank the whole team behind me, who have brought this case from the very beginning. We have a nation of millions on our side, and we couldn't be more confident about our arguments here."

Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director of the ACLU

"I was especially gratified that President Trump was sitting a mere six feet away from me, and I hope that he was schooled in the importance of birthright citizenship. I am confident that we will win this case, and that the future of this country will be determined by our Constitution, by our civil rights statutes and not by the whim of a president who wishes to wipe away hundreds of years of precedent."

Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU

The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority, which repeatedly ruled in Trump's favor last year.

However, the court handed him a major defeat in February when it ruled that his broad use of tariffs was unlawful.

WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - The Supreme Court is hearing a landmark case challenging President Donald Trump's executive order which limits birthright citizenship.

Early in his second term, President Trump signed the order and argues that babies born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and temporary foreign visitors were not eligible for automatic citizenship.

It limits citizenship to babies who have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

The president left the White House Wednesday morning and traveled to the high court to listen to the oral arguments in person. This is a first for a sitting president.

Meanwhile, outside the high court protesters are calling on the justices to leave birthright citizenship as is.

To watch the livestream of the hearing, see attached video.