The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on May 15, 2025, to review President Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order challenging birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
The order, effective February 19, 2025, denies automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents, prompting lawsuits from the ACLU and 20 states, per The New York Times. Trump’s policy, affecting 4 million annual births, claims the amendment’s “subject to the jurisdiction” clause excludes undocumented parents..
Legal scholars, including Yale’s Akhil Amar, argue altering the 1868 amendment requires constitutional amendment, not executive action, with 90% of past rulings upholding universal birthright citizenship, per SCOTUSblog. The case, consolidated from nationwide injunctions, follows Trump’s claim of “very good grounds,” despite 70% public opposition.
The court’s 6-3 conservative majority faces pressure, as 2024’s immigration arrests hit 1 million, per CBP data. A ruling is expected by July, potentially reshaping citizenship for 11 million undocumented residents, per MPI estimates.