On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a ruling affirming that almost everyone born in the United States is an American citizen, effectively blunting the Trump administration's efforts to limit birthright citizenship. This decision marks a significant defeat for former President Trump, who sought to reshape immigration policy and curb illegal immigration through various measures, including controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
The ruling underscores the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship and was supported by a majority that included conservative Chief Justice Roberts and Trump-nominated Justice Amy Coney Barrett, alongside the court's liberal justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor.
Despite Trump's success in reducing unauthorized migration at the southwestern border, his interior immigration enforcement actions have been more contentious. Public opinion, as reflected in RealClearPolitics polling averages, shows a majority disapproving of Trump's immigration policies, with 51 percent opposed versus 45 percent in favor.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri criticized the ruling on social media, calling it "wrong, dangerous, and disastrous for American sovereignty and the American people" and described it as "a sad day in the history of our republic."
Immigration had been a central issue for Trump during his 2024 campaign against then-Vice President Kamala Harris. However, this Supreme Court decision represents a major legal setback for his administration's immigration agenda.
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