Story perspectives

Trump Attends, SCOTUS 6-3 Overturns Birthright Citizenship Ban

6/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments on his birthright-citizenship case.
On June 30, 2026 the Court voted 6-3 to strike down Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025 order ending birthright citizenship.
Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, invoking the Citizenship Clause.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh praised the decision preserving citizenship for 255,000 newborns each year, while Justice Thomas, Justice Alito and Justice Gorsuch dissented.

History

Historical Context

In 1898, the Supreme Court issued United States v. Wong Kim Ark, a 5-4 decision affirming the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause for U.S.-born children. Chief Justice Melville Fuller authored the majority, noting that approximately 1,000 Chinese-American families had been denied citizenship under the prevailing statutes. President Donald Trump’s 2025 order to end birthright citizenship revived the controversy, leading Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh to defend right in 2026. The ruling now secures citizenship for roughly 255,000 newborns each year, compelling Congress to reconsider immigration reforms while reinforcing the Fourteenth Amendment’s enduring authority.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments on his birthright-citizenship case.
On June 30, 2026 the Court voted 6-3 to strike down Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025 order ending birthright citizenship.
Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, invoking the Citizenship Clause.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh praised the decision preserving citizenship for 255,000 newborns each year, while Justice Thomas, Justice Alito and Justice Gorsuch dissented.

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