Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship 6-3, striking down Trump's executive order

Summary

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 30 that the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause bestows citizenship on virtually all persons born on US soil, striking down Executive Order 14160, which President Trump signed on January 20, 2025, directing agencies not to recognize citizenship for children born to parents who are neither citizens nor lawful permanent residents. Chief Justice Roberts wrote for a majority that included Justices Kavanaugh, Barrett, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented. Every lower court that had reviewed the order's merits had also struck it down; the order was never implemented.

Why it matters

The ruling is the term's most significant immigration decision and a direct rebuff to one of Trump's signature second-term priorities. It adds to a pattern: alongside the February tariff ruling and Monday's Fed-firing loss, the court has now blocked three of Trump's most far-reaching executive actions on constitutional grounds. The citizenship clause interpretation is now settled for this generation.