In a highly anticipated ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, striking down an executive order from President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, that sought to limit citizenship to children born to U.S. citizens.
The Court reaffirmed its interpretation of the 14th Amendment, ruling that any child born on U.S. soil is entitled to American citizenship.
Cecillia Wang, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, called the decision a victory for constitutional rights.
“This decision reaffirms one of the fundamental pillars of American life, that all of us born on American soil are citizens alike,” she said.
In dissent, conservative justices argued that the 14th Amendment was originally intended to protect formerly enslaved people, not address modern immigration issues. Justice Samuel Alito called the ruling “a serious mistake.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also criticized the decision.
“It’s one of those things that was intended to serve a noble, important purpose and has been thwarted and overused and abused.”
The ruling leaves in place decades of legal precedent on birthright citizenship, and Congress has indicated it does not plan to pursue further action on the issue.
