The Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship in a 6–3 ruling, reaffirming that children born on U.S. soil are citizens regardless of their parents' immigration status Source: AP News; NPR.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, grounding birthright citizenship in the 14th Amendment's history: "We keep that promise today" Source: BBC; LATimes. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred but based his decision on federal immigration statutes rather than the Constitution, suggesting Congress could enact exceptions Source: CNN; The Verge. The dissenters—Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch—argued the 14th Amendment was meant only for freed slaves and their descendants Source: AP News; Al Jazeera.
Trump called the decision "too bad for our country" and urged Congress to pass legislation limiting birthright citizenship Source: BBC. Experts say such legislation faces steep odds in the Senate and may not survive constitutional challenge Source: NPR. Meanwhile, the Justice Department announced a crackdown on "birth tourism," though data shows it involves fewer than 1% of U.S. births annually Source: The Guardian; Politifact.
“A divided Supreme Court upheld the concept of birthright citizenship, with a bare majority of five justices saying that with very limited exceptions the long-settled understanding of the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.”
“Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, hailed the US practice of birthright citizenship. 'The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to 'every free-born person in this land,' he wrote. 'We keep that promise today.'”
“Kavanaugh suggested that Trump might accomplish his goal through new federal legislation. 'Congress could – consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment – amend (the relevant federal laws) or otherwise enact new legislation establishing exceptions to birthright citizenship for children born to foreign citizens unlawfully or temporarily in the country.'”
“Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the main dissent, arguing that 'the Citizenship Clause was enacted for people who were born in this country and called it home. It was enacted for freed slaves such as Dred Scott.'”
Trump seeks Supreme Court rehearing on birthright citizenship ruling