Supreme Court’s Final Term Poised to Decide President Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Challenge

With a dozen cases pending, the Court’s last days of the 2025-2026 term include President Donald Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship, his effort to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and challenges to independent-agency appointments. Observers note the concentration of “blockbuster” cases makes final week decisive for presidential power.

Reuters

Trump’s order, issued on his first day back, declares that Fourteenth Amendment “has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States.” The order would deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are not lawfully present or who hold temporary lawful status. The ACLU and allied groups sued; oral arguments in April showed several justices skeptical of the order’s basis.

The Hill

A Quinnipiac University poll (June 18-22) found 69 % of 1,165 voters favor keeping birthright citizenship, including 95 % of Democrats and 69 % of independents, while over half of Republicans support the administration’s position. Migration Policy Institute and Penn State’s Population Research Institute estimate ending policy would strip citizenship from roughly 255,000 newborns annually and increase the undocumented U.S. population by 2.7 million by 2045 and 5.4 million by 2075.

The Hill

University of Michigan professor Sam Erman said it is “totally normal for the most important cases of the term to come out in the last few days,” but warned that “they have a view of a strong executive, but it’s not an unlimited executive.” He noted Court’s majority has embraced the “unitary executive” theory, yet justices have not announced a date to close term, leaving decision’s timing uncertain.

Reuters

The ACLU argues order violates Fourteenth Amendment’s citizenship guarantee and would create a new class of stateless children. Poll data reflect opposition, and scholars warn policy could exacerbate undocumented migration and strain services.

The Hill

• “Only Supreme Court justices and schoolchildren are expected to and do take the entire summer off,” — John Roberts, chief justice

New York Times

• “We know that the Constitution is safe for the summer.” — John Roberts, chief justice

New York Times

• “It's totally normal for the most important cases of the term to come out in the last few days. What is unusual is that there are so many blockbuster cases,” — Sam Erman, University of Michigan professor

Reuters

• “They have a view of a strong executive, but it's not an unlimited executive,” — Sam Erman, University of Michigan professor

Reuters

A ruling is expected by the end of June, before Court’s summer recess. Decision will determine whether administration can reshape citizenship policy, prompting litigation and shaping immigration debates ahead of 2026 midterm elections.

Reuters