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WASHINGTON — In a landmark ruling and a major blow to President Donald Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court has officially struck down his controversial executive order limiting birthright citizenship.
In a decisive 6-3 decision, the justices upheld a 150-year-old constitutional precedent that guarantees automatic American citizenship to babies born in the US, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
President Trump had earlier issued the sweeping executive order in an attempt to end automatic citizenship for babies born to parents who are in the country illegally or holding temporary visas. The policy was a cornerstone of his administration’s broader immigration agenda.
However, Tuesday’s ruling definitively slams the door on Trump’s efforts. According to ABT NEWS Washington correspondent, the highest court has spoken, and there is now very little the president can do to reverse the decision or bypass the constitutional roadblock.
“Born or Naturalised”: How Birthright Citizenship Works
The legal battle centered on the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Opponents of the president’s executive order successfully argued that stripping birthright citizenship from the children of undocumented immigrants or temporary visa holders was a direct violation of this amendment.
Adopted in 1868 following the American Civil War, the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment plainly states that “All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States…”
Here is how that constitutional mechanism works in practice today:
- The Baseline Rule: If a baby is born within the territorial borders of the United States, they are automatically granted U.S. citizenship at the exact moment of birth.
- The Jurisdiction Clause: The phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” has historically been interpreted to exclude only a tiny fraction of newborns, such as the children of foreign diplomats or hostile invading armies.
- The 150-Year Precedent: Since the late 19th century, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that the children of foreign nationals—including those without legal documentation—are fully subject to U.S. laws and jurisdiction, and therefore qualify for automatic citizenship.
By striking down the executive order, the 6-3 majority ruled that this longstanding constitutional protection cannot be rewritten or erased by a presidential decree, preserving the fabric of American citizenship law.
Keep visiting www.abtnews.net for live updates and expert legal analysis from our Washington correspondents.
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