Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship: Trump’s Plan Defeated

Mon Sep 14 2026 15:24:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The US Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that anyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen under the 14th Amendment, striking a blow to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

In a landmark 6‑3 decision, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that children born in the United States, regardless of their parents’ immigration status, are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment. The ruling rejects former President Donald Trump’s attempt to amend the Constitution through an executive order that would have curtailed birthright citizenship for children of undocumented and temporary migrants. Majority opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized the historic promise of the Amendment for “every free‑born person in this land.” Trump publicly denounced the verdict as “too bad” and pledged to pursue legislative changes. The decision ignited applause from civil‑rights groups, while three justices – Thomas, Gorsuch and Alito – dissented, arguing that the Amendment had been misapplied. The ruling marks a significant victory for immigration advocates and shapes future legal and political debates on citizenship.

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship: Trump’s Plan Defeated

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 delivered a 6‑3 ruling that restored the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship to all children born on American soil, regardless of the legal status of their parents. The decision directly challenges former President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order that sought to restrict citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visitors.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority, affirming that “citizenship, then and now, was the promise made to every free‑born person in this land.” He clarified that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction hereof” in the 14th Amendment applies to anyone born in the United States, not just those with permanent residency.

The Court’s decision was a decisive blow to Trump’s immigration agenda. The former president immediately called the ruling “too bad,” vowing to continue the fight to end birthright citizenship through new legislation.

Three justices – Christopher Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito – dissented, arguing that the 14th Amendment was improperly applied to modern immigration concerns. Justice Thomas warned that the Amendment “has been repurposed for political projects,” while Justice Alito described the ruling as a “serious mistake” that could grant citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., even those who deliberately travel there to give birth and then return home.

Civil‑rights advocates hailed the ruling. Democrat Representative Hakeem Jeffries said the Court “finally affirmed that all persons born in the United States are American citizens.” Dariely Rodriguez, chief counsel of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, added that the decision “[solidifies] what we have known to be true for over a hundred years.”

The Supreme Court’s January 2026 holding underscores the enduring nature of the 14th Amendment and sets a precedent for future debates over citizenship and immigration policy in the United States. The decision promises to shape the political landscape for years to come, as lawmakers and activists grapple with its implications.

Source: BBC News; Image credit: AFP via Getty Images.