Birthright Citizenship Safe for Now, but Legal Fights Ahead

The Supreme Court has ruled on President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, but it did not debate its constitutionality. Instead, the Supreme Court focused on whether a single district judge would have the ability to block federal policies nationwide. The Court stated that judges don’t have authority to issue injunctions for the entire nation unless the case is a class-action lawsuit. 

The Supreme Court of the United States.

For now, nothing changes for expecting parents. Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship will not take effect for 30 days, so babies born in the US during this time will remain citizens. Many immigrant rights groups are now attempting to file class-action lawsuits to preserve nationwide citizenship rights. Without that, court rulings would only happen in certain states, thereby creating a system where citizenship rules could differ by your location.

Justice Barnett has warned people that this would force states to check every child’s parent’s immigration status before granting citizenship. This ruling has left room for nationwide injunctions in some cases, but it remains unclear when they will be allowed.

This decision affects much more than just immigration. It also fundamentally changes how courts can block federal policies on issues such as voting rights, environmental regulations, and student loans. With no national class action lawsuits rulings could vary a lot depending on the state, leading to many local legal battles instead of a single, clear decision.