The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and struck down an executive order from President Donald Trump that sought to limit the practice.
The ruling preserves a fundamental pillar of U.S. immigration law, ensuring that children born on American soil remain citizens regardless of their parents' legal status.
In a six-three decision [1], the Court invalidated the executive order that President Trump signed in January 2025 [2]. The order had attempted to restrict the automatic granting of citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizens. The decision, announced in June 2026, reinforces the legal interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the initial lawsuit challenging the order, responded to the victory with a cautious outlook. While the ruling protects the status quo for now, the organization said the broader legal and political battle over immigration policy is not finished.
Executive Director Anthony Romero said the ruling is a significant win, but broader challenges to the policy and related immigration issues remain. The ACLU said the legal fight continues because the administration may seek alternative methods to restrict citizenship or implement other restrictive policies.
Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion for the Court. The decision marks a significant legal check on the executive branch's authority to alter citizenship requirements through executive action, a move the Court found exceeded presidential power.
“The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and struck down an executive order from President Donald Trump.”
This ruling reaffirms the judicial interpretation of the 14th Amendment, limiting the ability of the executive branch to redefine citizenship via order. However, the ACLU's insistence that the battle is not over suggests that future legislative attempts or different administrative strategies may still target birthright citizenship, keeping the issue a central point of contention in U.S. immigration law.
