According to Xinhua News Agency, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 27th regarding President Trump’s attempt to widely implement his executive order restricting “birthright citizenship,” ruling that individual judges cannot prevent the president’s orders from taking effect nationwide. This means
that the restriction on “birthright citizenship” can begin to be enforced.
Three liberal Supreme Court justices expressed dissent over this ruling.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor described the Trump administration’s measures as “flagrantly unconstitutional” and “manipulative.”
At the same time, immigration groups in the United States expressed disappointment and discontent, stating that this move would bring about
“chaos, inequality, and fear.”
The Trump administration welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision.
President Trump claimed it was a “great victory” on social media.
On June 27, 2025, local time, in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Donald Trump responded to questions about recent Supreme Court rulings during a White House press conference. Photo credit: Visual China
Trump Seeks to Abolish “Birthright Citizenship”
The policy of “birthright citizenship” has been in place in the United States for over 150 years. The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, passed in 1868, provides for “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the state where they reside.” This clause grants U.S. citizenship to all individuals born in the United States, meaning even those holding tourist, work, or other visas, as well as illegal immigrants, can have their children become U.S. citizens if they were born in the country.
On January 20th of this year, Trump signed an executive order to abolish “birthright citizenship,” stipulating that newborns of parents who are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents cannot automatically receive U.S. citizenship. This led to widespread outrage among the public.
In the wake of the ruling, President Trump sought intervention from the Supreme Court. Regarding the Fourteenth Amendment, the Trump administration argued that the “residency” clause excluded children of non-permanent or non-legal residents of the United States.
On the 27th, the conservative-controlled U.S. Supreme Court approved the Trump administration’s request, limiting the scope of federal district court orders to only apply to states, groups, and individuals who file lawsuits. However, the decision did not address whether the executive order restricting “birthright citizenship” was itself unconstitutional.
Two Classes of People Will Lose Their American Citizenship
U.S. media believe that the aforementioned ruling is favorable for the Trump administration to gradually take steps to end “birthright citizenship.”
Under the Trump administration’s executive order on abolishing “birthright citizenship,” two categories of people will no longer be recognized as citizens of the United States:
First, if someone’s mother was in illegal status when they were born, and their father is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident; second, if someone’s mother was in legal temporary status when they were born, and their father is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
According to U.S. media reports, the Trump administration’s executive order had a 30-day grace period before it took effect, meaning that at present, “birthright citizenship” has not been abolished, and people born across the United States remain citizens.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling, how will the Trump administration actually implement its executive order?
Reports indicate that the U.S. government needs to draft regulations detailing the specifics of the executive order’s implementation, such as whether pregnant women now need to carry their passports or birth certificates to hospitals in the United States? The White House has yet to provide clear statements on these details, and the Department of Justice has not explained how the government plans to execute the executive order.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling, federal district courts in states such as Maryland and Massachusetts will have to re-examine the nationwide bans issued in their state and make modifications or narrow them down to only apply to plaintiffs who had previously filed lawsuits. The plaintiffs include attorneys general from 22 U.S. states and immigrant rights groups.
However, for the 28 states that have not filed lawsuits, the Trump administration’s executive order abolishing “birthright citizenship” will take effect within 30 days.
A poll conducted by the Emerson College Poll Center on American registered voters between June 24th and 25th showed that 68% of voters support “birthright citizenship.” On this issue, there is a clear partisan divide; 90% of Democrats support “birthright citizenship,” while only 49% of Republicans believe the system can continue to be retained.