The United States Supreme Court has rejected an attempt by President Donald Trump to restrict birthright citizenship, upholding the long-standing constitutional interpretation that grants citizenship to nearly everyone born on US soil.
In a 6–3 ruling delivered on the final day of its term, the court affirmed that children born in the United States to parents who are in the country unlawfully or on temporary visas are still entitled to American citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, stated that such children are “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore qualify as citizens at birth.
The ruling followed Trump’s executive order issued at the start of his second term, which sought to deny automatic citizenship to children born to undocumented migrants or temporary visa holders. Lower courts had already blocked the order, citing the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Trump had argued that the amendment was intended primarily to secure citizenship rights for formerly enslaved people after the Civil War, and not for children of non-citizens. His administration also claimed that unrestricted birthright citizenship encourages illegal immigration and so-called “birth tourism.”
However, the Supreme Court upheld its earlier precedent, including the landmark 1898 case of Wong Kim Ark, which confirmed citizenship for individuals born in the US to foreign parents.
The decision marks another major legal setback for Trump, following previous rulings this term that struck down parts of his global tariff policy and blocked his attempt to remove a Federal Reserve governor.
Trump had attended oral arguments in the case in April but did not remain for the full proceedings.
The ruling reinforces the constitutional principle that birthright citizenship remains a protected right under US law.
