Historic Decision Hands Trump Major Victory in Constitutional Battle Over Who Gets to Be American
WASHINGTON — In a seismic 6-3 ruling that has sent shockwaves through the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a major victory on Friday in a case involving birthright citizenship by curbing the ability of judges to impede his policies nationwide, potentially paving the way for the most dramatic change to American citizenship laws since the Civil War.
The Bottom Line: What Just Happened
The Supreme Court didn’t directly rule on whether Trump can end birthright citizenship, but limited federal judges from issuing universal injunctions, which had been used to block President Donald Trump from implementing his executive order ending birthright citizenship. This procedural victory now allows Trump’s administration to begin implementing parts of a policy that could deny citizenship to over 150,000 newborns annually.
The Constitutional Crisis Explained
On his very first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident. This directly challenges the 14th Amendment, which has guaranteed citizenship to virtually everyone born on American soil since 1868.
The Fourteenth Amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This provision was specifically created after the Civil War to overturn the infamous Dred Scott decision and ensure that formerly enslaved people could become citizens.
What Makes This So Controversial
President Trump’s contention that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional is widely considered a fringe view because the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary 127 years ago, and that decision has never been disturbed. Legal scholars across the political spectrum have long agreed that the 14th Amendment is clear and unambiguous.
Yet Trump’s administration argues that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S., as phrased in the 14th Amendment, and therefore do not qualify for automatic citizenship.
The Human Impact
More than 150,000 newborns would be denied citizenship annually if Trump’s order takes effect, according to the plaintiffs who challenged the directive. Justice Sonia Sotomayor highlighted the human cost, expressing concern about “thousands of children who are going to be born without citizenship papers that could render them stateless”.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court’s ruling creates a 30-day window for Trump’s policy to potentially take effect. Rights groups and 22 states had asked federal judges to block President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship, but now face a much more complex legal landscape.
In response to yesterday’s ruling, civil rights groups have already filed new class-action lawsuits, setting up what could be the most significant constitutional battle over American identity in modern history.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
This isn’t just about immigration policy—it’s about the fundamental question of what it means to be American. Birthright citizenship was added to the Constitution in the 14th Amendment after the Civil War to guarantee citizenship for formerly enslaved people who were newly freed.
If Trump succeeds, it would mark the first time since the Civil War era that the United States has restricted birthright citizenship, potentially creating a class of children born on American soil who are denied the rights and protections of citizenship.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor decried the government’s efforts to end birthright citizenship, while criticizing her conservative colleagues for “shamefully” permitting judicial “gamesmanship” by the Trump administration.
Public Opinion Divided
In a June 11-12 Reuters/Ipsos poll, 24% of all respondents supported ending birthright citizenship and 52% opposed it. Among Democrats, 5% supported ending it, with 84% opposed. Among Republicans, 43% supported ending it, with 24% opposed.
What’s Next
The ultimate question of whether Trump’s executive order violates the Constitution remains unanswered. The Supreme Court has indicated it will likely need to address the constitutional merits directly in the coming months, setting up a historic showdown over one of America’s most fundamental principles.
As the legal battle intensifies, millions of American families wait to learn whether the promise of the 14th Amendment—that all children born on American soil can claim their birthright as citizens—will survive this unprecedented constitutional challenge.
This is a developing story. The constitutional implications of this ruling will likely reverberate for generations, regardless of how the ultimate legal challenges are resolved.
