Supreme Court limits blocks on Trump plan to remove birthright citizenship rights

The Supreme Court has delivered a significant victory to the Trump administration, ruling in a 6-3 decision to allow steps toward ending automatic birthright citizenship. The decision narrows the scope of nationwide injunctions, now only applicable to states, groups, and individuals that have filed lawsuits, according to NBC News.

This ruling signifies a shift in judicial authority, permitting the Trump administration to advance its proposal in states that have not challenged it. "GIANT WIN in the United States Supreme Court!" Trump declared on Truth Social, supporting the decision as a reaffirmation of the Constitution, reports Fox News.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, emphasized that courts should not exceed their powers, while liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor countered the move as a "travesty for the rule of law." Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson echoed concerns about an "existential threat to the rule of law."

Immediate reactions saw plaintiffs and other opponents of the proposal vowing ongoing legal battles. William Powell, representing challengers in Maryland, stated their intent to ensure “every child born in the United States receives the citizenship that the 14th Amendment promises them,” according to NBC News.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin remains confident that Trump's executive order will never take effect. The ruling does not assess the legality of the order, only the authority of judges to impose nationwide injunctions, which have been criticized as unconstitutional by the Justice Department.

The birthright citizenship plan aims to redefine citizenship criteria, favoring those with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent, but continues to face significant legal hurdles. As SCOTUSblog reports, the court’s decision permits continued work by lower courts before the 30-day deadline for the order’s technical enactment.