U.S . Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship, rejecting former President Donald Trump's order to limit rights for children born in U.S. In a decisive 6-3 ruling Tuesday,court reaffirmed longstanding practice granting citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil,regardless of parents' immigration status.
Ruling lands just before July 4 holiday,marking 250th anniversary of American independence. It's rooted in 14th Amendment, ratified 1868, post-Civil War to ensure all born or naturalized in U.S. are citizens.
Chief Justice John Roberts stressed this principle in majority opinion, saying, “The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land.’ We keep that promise today.”
Trump's order, issued after taking office January 2025,aimed to deny birthright citizenship to kids of parents in U.S. unlawfully or on temporary visas. Administration argued “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in 14th Amendment excluded some immigrant groups from automatic citizenship.
During proceedings, U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer argued current practice led to “birth tourism,” where foreigners come to U.S. to give birth for citizenship. Trump has long criticized it,calling it a burden on taxpayers and a loophole for undocumented migrants.
Trump,responding to ruling,expressed disappointment, calling it “too bad for our country.” He urged Republicans in Congress to pursue legislation limiting birthright citizenship . “Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship,” he said,pledging full support.
Ruling holds significance for U.S. immigration policy. Analysts say it preserves inclusive citizenship interpretation,covering children of undocumented migrants. Rainer Baubock of Robert Schuman Centre noted court's decision closes door on legislative attempts to restrict birthright citizenship without constitutional amendment, a long shot.
Joint study by Migration Policy Institute and Pennsylvania State University found if Trump's order implemented,255,000 babies yearly would lack citizenship, potentially boosting undocumented population by 2.7 million by 2045. Latino immigrants would be hit hardest, making up over 90% of U.S.-born individuals without legal status by 2050.
Ruling carries economic weight too. Center for Migration Studies estimated beneficiaries of birthright citizenship could contribute $7.7 trillion to U.S. economy through income from 1975 to 2074.
As political landscape shifts, Supreme Court's decision underscores constitutional limits on presidential power over immigration. Nando Sigona,a migration expert,noted ruling reaffirms Constitution’s role in defining citizenship,rejecting executive attempts to redefine rights .
Debate on birthright citizenship deeply tied to 14th Amendment's history, which aimed to address injustices faced by Black Americans post-Civil War. This ruling impacts immigration policy but also resonates with ongoing discourse on race and citizenship in U.S…
