President Donald Trump has called on Congress to end birthright citizenship through legislation, following the U.S. Supreme Court's Tuesday ruling in Trump v. Barbara that upheld the policy. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, "The Supreme Court upheld Birthright Citizenship, which is too bad for our Country, but we can easily make it up in Congress through Legislation, with the support of the President, that has now been determined during this process."
Trump Rejects Need for Constitutional Amendment
Trump argued that a constitutional amendment is unnecessary, writing, "No long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment is necessary! Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship. They will have my Complete and Total Support!" He also shared a link to an article on Truth Social suggesting that ending birthright citizenship could happen with or without the Supreme Court's approval.
Background on the Executive Order and 14th Amendment
The ruling, which experts had anticipated would go against Trump, stems from an executive order he signed on the first day of his second term last year to end birthright citizenship. Established by the 14th Amendment, birthright citizenship grants automatic citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' immigration status. At the signing, Trump called the policy "absolutely ridiculous."
Trump attended oral arguments in April, becoming the first sitting president to do so. He has previously claimed that the U.S. is the only country offering birthright citizenship, but according to data, more than 30 other countries also provide some version of it.
