Supreme Court Blocks Trump Order Ending Birthright Citizenship in 5-4 Ruling
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jul 12
Supreme Court Blocks Trump Order Ending Birthright Citizenship in 5-4 Ruling
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jul 12
Summary
A 5-4 Supreme Court majority barred Trump’s executive order from denying citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants or temporary visitors.
Chief Justice John Roberts said the 14th Amendment’s text was clear and long understood to guarantee birthright citizenship, while Brett Kavanaugh added that a 1952 federal law also foreclosed Trump’s move.
The ruling exposed a split among conservative originalists: Amy Coney Barrett joined Roberts and the three liberals, while Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented and Neil Gorsuch partly backed their skepticism.
The dissenters argued modern illegal immigration justifies revisiting the 1868 understanding, but the majority said any change must come from Congress rather than a president acting alone.
The close vote suggested the constitutional fight is not over, with analysts saying the court’s debate over history and changed circumstances could resurface in future cases.
The Court affirmed birthright citizenship, so why do parents of thousands of American children still face deportation?
Beyond the legal ruling, what is the economic cost of current immigration enforcement on American jobs and inflation?
Trump v. Barbara: Supreme Court’s 6-3 Decision Upholds Birthright Citizenship Amid Political and Legal Battles
Overview
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark 6-3 decision in Trump v. Barbara, rejecting President Trump’s executive order that aimed to limit birthright citizenship. This pivotal ruling affirmed a lower court’s decision and upheld the long-standing principle that anyone born on American soil is a U.S. citizen, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion for a five-member majority, ensuring that birthright citizenship remains protected. The decision preserves stability for families nationwide and reinforces the constitutional guarantee of citizenship by birth.