High Court Says Children Born in the U.s. Are Citizens Under the 14th Amendment

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that children born in the United States are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment, rejecting an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that sought to deny automatic citizenship to many children born to parents who are in the country unlawfully or temporarily.

In a 5-4 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the Constitution's Citizenship Clause protects birthright citizenship, reaffirming a principle that has been recognized for more than 150 years.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Roberts and the court's three liberal justices in the majority. Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed the executive order could not take effect, writing that it conflicts with a federal law enacted in 1940, though he did not conclude it violates the Constitution itself. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

The ruling leaves birthright citizenship unchanged, meaning children born on U.S. soil remain U.S. citizens under the 14th Amendment.