In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to nearly everyone born in the United States|Victoria Pickering|CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down President Donald Trump’s attempt to limit birthright citizenship, ruling that children born on US soil remain citizens under the Constitution.

In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to nearly everyone born in the United States. The court rejected the administration’s argument that the rule should not apply to children of undocumented immigrants or temporary visa holders.

Trump’s executive order, signed on the first day of his second term, had already been blocked by lower courts and never took effect.

The January 2025 order instructed the government to grant citizenship only to children with at least one parent who is a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

The ruling also reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s 1898 precedent on birthright citizenship. Trump criticized the decision but said he would support congressional efforts to address the issue.

The defeat marks the third time this year that SCOTUS has blocked a major Trump initiative, following a February ruling against his global tariff program and a Monday decision protecting a Federal Reserve board member from being fired by the President.

Meanwhile, in another ruling, the Supreme Court upheld state laws prohibiting transgender girls and women from competing on school sports teams.