Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship in 6-3 Decision

On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld the concept of birthright citizenship, rejecting an executive order from President Donald Trump that aimed to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The court's decision, made by a 6-3 vote, was led by Chief Justice John Roberts, who stated that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the country, with very few exceptions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed disagreement with the constitutional interpretation but noted a federal law that supports birthright citizenship. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas dissented, with Thomas criticizing the majority's ruling as a misapplication of the 14th Amendment. The executive order had been previously blocked by lower courts and was part of Trump's broader immigration policy. The ruling reinforces the long-standing understanding of citizenship as defined by the 14th Amendment, which was established to ensure citizenship for former slaves and their descendants.