Story perspectives

Trump Birthright Ban Blocked, Supreme Court Review Pending

6/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump's January 2025 order denying citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants was blocked and awaits Supreme Court.
Political scientist Rogers Smith says Congress set citizenship limits, noting a Pew poll finds Americans split 50-49 percent granting citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants.
University of Virginia law professor Amanda Frost says the Fourteenth Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States except children of diplomats or occupying forces.

History

Historical Context

In 1898 the Supreme Court, with Justice Horace Gray writing for a 6-2 majority, ruled in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that any child born on U.S. soil is a citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment, except for diplomats or occupying forces. President Donald Trump’s Jan 20 2025 executive order seeking to end that birthright sparked immediate lawsuits, and the Court agreed to hear the challenge in December 2025.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump's January 2025 order denying citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants was blocked and awaits Supreme Court.
Political scientist Rogers Smith says Congress set citizenship limits, noting a Pew poll finds Americans split 50-49 percent granting citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants.
University of Virginia law professor Amanda Frost says the Fourteenth Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States except children of diplomats or occupying forces.

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