US Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship
The US Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship on June 30. The court struck down Trump's order to end the right.
The ruling was 6 to 3 in favor of keeping birthright citizenship. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the decision.
Trump had signed the order on his first day back in office. Every lower court had already blocked it as unconstitutional.
After the ruling Trump called on Congress to end birthright citizenship by law. Some Republican senators also announced plans to change the constitution.
Birthright citizenship gives citizenship to anyone born in the US. This applies no matter what their parents' immigration status is.
Klear Note — Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868. It automatically grants US citizenship to anyone born on US soil, regardless of parents' status.
Key Terms 4
- Birthright citizenship The right to citizenship if you are born in a country
- Executive order A rule the US president can make without Congress voting
- Constitutional amendment A formal change to the US constitution requiring broad approval
- Unconstitutional Against the rules set out in the US constitution