The Supreme Court has decided to maintain birthright citizenship in the United States. This means that babies born in the U.S. to parents who are not legal residents will continue to be U.S. citizens. This tradition has been in place for over a century.
On June 30, 2026, the Court ruled 6-3 against an executive order by President Donald Trump. Trump's order aimed to stop automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants or temporary visitors. The Court's decision strongly supports the constitutional principle established after the Civil War.
The legal challenge started on January 20, 2025, when Trump tried to block citizenship for these children. However, lower courts quickly stopped the order, finding it unconstitutional. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a lawsuit to protect the children's rights.
In a significant moment, President Trump attended the oral arguments in April 2026, the first sitting president to do so. The Court's decision was written by Chief Justice John Roberts. He explained that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship to all born in the U.S. and subject to its laws. The Court rejected the idea that parents needed permanent legal status.
Justice Roberts referenced an 1898 case about Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese parents. This case confirmed that being born on U.S. soil grants citizenship. The Court noted only a few exceptions, like children of foreign diplomats.
While three conservative justices disagreed, the majority upheld the long-standing practice. This ruling is a significant legal victory, confirming the definition of an American for generations.