With President Donald Trump there to watch, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments April 1 on whether children born in the United States should automatically be granted U.S. citizenship – a significant case that could upend a precedent set 158 years ago.
The court will decide in Trump v. Barbara whether Trump's executive order to limit birthright citizenship is constitutional. Trump, who signed the order shortly after taking office in January 2025, attended the hearing, the first time a sitting president has been present for oral arguments.
A ruling is expected this summer.
It's the second time the Supreme Court has considered Trump's citizenship order. On June 27, 2025, the justices voted 6-3 to partially stay temporary restraints by district courts that blocked Trump's order from taking effect. The court said the district courts had likely exceeded their authority.
The court did not rule on whether Trump's order itself was constitutional. But none of the justices voiced support during oral arguments May 15 for the administration’s assertion that Trump’s order is consistent with the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause and past Supreme Court decisions about that provision.
