Supreme Court Signals Skepticism of Trump Effort to End Birthright Citizenship

The U.S. Supreme Court is signaling skepticism toward efforts to end automatic birthright citizenship, as justices from across the ideological spectrum raised concerns during recent arguments.

During the more than two-hour session, both liberal and conservative justices questioned whether the administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment aligns with more than a century of legal precedent.

Chief Justice John Roberts and others challenged how the Constitution could be applied to modern immigration issues, while justices including Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett pressed attorneys on historical interpretations of citizenship and parental allegiance.

Some conservative justices suggested the court could rule narrowly, potentially rejecting the policy based on existing federal law without addressing broader constitutional questions.

The case centers on whether children born in the United States to certain non-citizen parents should automatically receive citizenship—a principle that has been widely accepted since the 14th Amendment was ratified.

Legal experts say the outcome could have far-reaching implications. Estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of children each year could be affected if birthright citizenship were restricted.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by the end of June.

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