US Supreme Court agrees to hear case challenging birthright citizenship

December 5, 2025

The Supreme Court has decided to review President Trump's executive order attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship, a constitutional right that has existed for approximately 160 years under the 14th Amendment. Trump issued the order on his inauguration day to prevent children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders from automatically receiving citizenship at birth, but federal lower courts blocked its implementation after legal challenges. The 14th Amendment currently guarantees citizenship to virtually everyone born on American soil, with limited exceptions for diplomatic and foreign military personnel's children.

Who is affected

Children born in the US to undocumented immigrants
Children born in the US to parents on temporary visas
Immigrant parents and their infants (listed as plaintiffs in the case)
The broader migrant community in the US

What action is being taken

The Supreme Court is hearing/reviewing the case
Lower courts have blocked Trump's executive order
The justices will be scheduling a date for oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs

Why it matters

This case challenges a nearly 160-year-old constitutional principle established by the 14th Amendment that guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the United States. The ruling will have far-reaching implications for how citizenship is granted in America and could fundamentally alter the rights of children born to immigrants, potentially affecting the legal status and future of countless families with undocumented or temporary visa-holding parents.

What's next

The justices will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs (which include immigrant parents and their infants).

Read full article from source: BBC