Yesterday the Supreme Court in issuing its decision on U.S. v. CASA, managed to create a patchwork nation, one in which children born to unauthorized immigrants in one state may be considered to be American citizens but not in another. The Court literally surrendered its legal and moral authority to an Executive out to get anyone who is not white but slightly tinted. That’s usually called racism.
As Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent, it was pure gamesmanship to bring the issue of nationwide injunctions on the issue of birthright citizenship, held as a matter of law in our Anglo-American heritage since the time of Edward III. The majority opinion citing English law noting that kings were not usually constrained (that’s what we have now?) by court decisions.
Now, plaintiffs must bring their cases before all 94 district courts in the Nation? As Justice Sotomayor wrote, “The Court’s decision is nothing less than an open invitation for the Government to bypass the Constitution.” We now have a Supreme Court as morally bankrupt as the Executive.
Prayer for the Day
Now as the vultures of hate circle about children,
Who then, O God, shall we protect?
Now as the lions of racism prowl about our streets,
How, then, O Lord, will we save their targets?
Steady us, O Holy One, for we need courage,
Else we all lose our heritage and liberty
In the name of the One who gives us courage,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The Founders … squarely rejected a governing system in which the King ruled all, and all others, including the courts, were his subordinates. …so it makes little sense to look to the relationship between English courts and the King for guidance on the power of our Nation’s Judiciary vis-à-vis the Executive.
Justice Jackson, dissenting
No right is safe in the new regime the Court creates. Today it is birthright citizenship. Tomorrow a different administration may try to seize firearms from law-abiding citizens or prevent people of certain faiths from gathering to worship.
Justice Sotomayor, dissenting
With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
I cry out my complaint before God; I tell God my troubles.
When my spirit is faint, you know the way.
Psalm 142: 1-3