The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil, including those whose parents are in the country unlawfully or temporarily, striking down President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order.
The Court declared the order invalid, reaffirming the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” The decision maintains automatic citizenship for most individuals born in America, despite arguments that it encourages illegal immigration and exceeds the amendment’s original intent.
In a scathing dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas accused the majority of twisting the 14th Amendment to enshrine rights the Reconstruction-era Congress never intended.
“Today, the Court does so again by recognizing a constitutional right to citizenship for the children of all foreign birth tourists and illegal aliens,” Thomas wrote. He warned the decision devalues American citizenship and “may not stand the test of time.” “I respectfully dissent.”
