The US Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional right to citizenship for all individuals born within the United States, effectively blocking Donald Trump’s effort to dismantle a policy that has stood for 150 years. In a 6-3 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts clarified that children born in the country to parents who are present temporarily or without legal authorization are considered citizens from birth under the 14th Amendment.
Donald Trump had attempted to bypass this long-standing precedent via executive order, claiming that children of undocumented immigrants were not subject to US jurisdiction. Following the ruling, the former president criticized the decision on Truth Social, characterizing it as a disappointment while urging Congress to enact new legislation to terminate birthright citizenship.
The 14th Amendment has guaranteed citizenship to everyone born in the US since 1868. Chief Justice Roberts noted in the majority opinion that the framers intended this promise to cover every person born on American soil, ensuring the right to participate in the political community. Conversely, dissenting Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Samuel Alito argued that the amendment’s original purpose was being distorted.
Justice Alito labeled the decision a grave error, while supporters of the ruling, including the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, hailed it as a vital confirmation of constitutional law. Administration officials, including former Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, sharply criticized the court’s stance, calling it destructive to national policy.
