DOJ presses federal appeals court to reverse ruling blocking Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship

By Devan Cole and Molly Reinmann, CNN

(CNN) — The Justice Department on Wednesday pressed a federal appeals court to reverse a judge’s ruling that blocked nationwide President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship.

The hearing before a three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals represents the first time one of the nation’s intermediate courts has heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of the controversial policy, which was blocked by several courts earlier this year before it could take effect.

The hourlong hearing unfolded at a courthouse in Seattle comes as the Supreme Court is considering whether it should modify the lower-court injunctions so that Trump can begin partially enforcing the policy while the legal challenges are resolved.

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